The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-12-23
Wilson Peace Note Gets
Caustic Comment From
Paris Press.
Says HE FORGOT BELGIUM
Think President Was Indu.
enced by Fear Of
Submarines.
CRy Associated Press,

PARIS, Dec, 2S.-The Allied answer
to Gcrmans peace proposals is almost
finished according to tho Petit Pari.
sian. Tho paper says 1t is a rather
long document and sets forth clearly
both the grievances of the allies and
crushing responsibility OF the Central
powers.
President Wilson's note and the
statement of Secretary Lansing cons
tinued to be the sensation Of the day
aud take precedence over everything
else in the morning papers. The Presl
identS action by no means meets
with favor among the commentators
who only vary in the manner OF en-
pressing their opinion. ~
The principal reproach is in the
world of Stephen Pichon, who writing
III the Petit Journal. says:
THE note makes no distinction be,
tween the states who provoked the
war and those on whom 1t was forced,
The belligeronts, whoever they are,
see themselves treated in the SAND
manner by President Wilson. He does
not remember either the violations of
Belgian neutrality, the crimes Of SUBJ
marine warfare or any of the mons
strous acts which revolted the cor3
science of his compatriots and that "a
the civilized world. Germany, her yics
tins Belgium, Serbia, or France, It ~
all the same. America can appreciate
this singular conception as she pleases,
We should be lacking in the first oi,
our duties In not holding 1t UP as an
outrage to our honor and our dignb
ty."
Georges ClcmUncCau, former pre-.
mier, in his newspaper L'Homme En-.
chainC, says: "The moral side OF tho
war has escaped President Wilson,
Tie puts on the same footing all OF tho
beIl'gcrents without asking for what
reason each is Fighting. Failing to take
into consideration these imponderabieE5
he believes himself just when he
speaks to all in the same terms.
He has not felt that the ends Of the
war could not be understood in the
same way by both sides and .conses
qucntly it would seem almost blasphe.
nous to hear It said that the object
seem the same on both sides.'"
Lincoln s answer to the French and
British offers TO mediate between the
North and South IN 1863 is freely quot.
cd and analogous arc freely drawn
between the situation then and now.
What citizen of the United States
would blame us if we answered VIII.
son as Lincoln answered the media
tors them" asked the Echo de Paris:
The Matiu says: The American note
Is certainly inspired by high sentiment.
II is doubtful whether II is opportune.8
It comes at a moment when It Is to
every interest OF Germany to stop or
oackGn hostilitirs. II comes after the
four ringing celebrations of Sonnino,
Pokrovsky, BRAND and Lloyd George.
The Journal aud the Gaulois think
President Wilson was influenced by
fear OF intcnsifcation of submarine
warfare and consideration Of the cons;
sequences Of tota! interruption OF sea
traffic if the Germans should carry
out the project they arc reported to-,
have decided on aud send 125 submas
rines to American waters. The Presi.
dent may also have been influenced,
these papers say. by the increase In
cost OF living in the United States.
Let us cOnsirdcr the President cooisi
ly." says the auIois. 'and send him an
answer. courteous but firm BETTING
our dignity and our desire to SAFE
guard the future