The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-23
Note Answering Peace Offer
Almost Completed.
Describes Crushing RESPONSE
bilities of Central Powers.
WILSON'S MOVE A SENSATION
French Honor "WOunded" by
Presidents Message.
Will Keep Peace in Foreground
Is Austrian Comment.

Paris Dec. 23.-The allies answer
to Germany's peace proposals is al
most finished, according to the Petit
Parisien. The paper says it is a
rather long document and sets forth
clearly. both the grievances of the
allies and the crushing responsibilities
of the central powers.
Note Puts War in Eclipse.
Paris, Dec. 23.-President Wilson's
note and the statement of Secretary
Lansing continue to be the sensations
of the day and to take precedence
over everything else in the morning
papers. The presidents action by no
means meets with favor among the
commentators not only in the man
ner of expressing their opinion The
principal reproach in the words or
Stephen Pichon, who, writing in the
Petit Journal says: THE note makes
no distinction between the states who
provoked the war and those upon
whom it was forced The belligerents,
whoever they are, see themselves
treated in the same manner by Pres
1dent Wilson. He does not remember
either the violation of Belgium neu-
trality, the crimes of the submarine
warfare or any of the monstrous acts
which revolted the conscience of his
compatriots and that of the civilized
world.
Refers to LincoIn's Answer.
Americans can appreciate this sing
ular conception as they please. We
should be lacking in the first of our
duties in not holding it up as an out
rage to our honor and our dignity
/ George Clemenceau former pre-
mier, in his newspaper, LHomme En-
/ chaine: The moral side of the war
has escaped President Wilson. He
put on the same footing all Of the
beliigerents without asking for what
i reason each of them is fighting?
lille has not felt that the end of the
war could be understood in the same
way by both sides and consequently, it
would seem almost blasphemous to
hear it said that The objects seem the
same on both sides
Lincoln's answer to the French and
| British offers to mediate between the
north and the south in 1863 is freely
quoted and analogies are drawn be-
tween the situation then and now.
what citizens of the United States
would blame us if we answered Will
son as Lincoln answered the mediators
| then?' asks the Echo de Paris.
! 1875 U-Boats to U. S. Shores!
( The Matin says:
THE American note is certainly in
spired by high sentiments 1t is
doubtful whether it is opportune."
The Journal and the Gaulois think
President Wilson was influenced by
the intensification of submarine war
fare and consideration of the conse-
quences of total interruption of sea
traffic if the Germans should carry out
the project they are reported to have
decided on and send 125 submarines to
/ American waters.
Compel Germans to State Terms.
Paris, Dec. 23.-The only reference
to President Wilson's note at the pub
lie sitting of the chamber of depu-
ties was made by Deputy Renaudel,
who expressed the belief that it would
compel Germany to tell plainly her
war aims.
Deputy Renaudel made his brief
reference in announcing that the So
cialist party would vote for the ap-
propriations for the first six months Of
1917. These subsequently were passed.
Sees Advantage in Note.
London, Dec. 23.-The Neue Freie
Prese of Vienna, according to a Reu-
ter's Amsterdam dispatch. says that
President Wilson's note will have the
effect, at any rate, that the question
of peace will remain for some time in
the foreground. 1t adds that the en-
tente will be obliged to discuss a rea-
sonable basis on which to end the war
and the desire for peace in the entente
countries will be further strengthened