The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-12-22
PEOPLE OF ENGLAND
BACKING UP GEORGE
GERMANY MUST MAKE Def.
MITE PEACE PROPOSAL
Nothing Less Will Be Satisfactory to
Them: When That Is Done British and
Supporting Allies Inclined to Discuss
1t; Teutons Call Talk of Britain, Rus
sia and France Great Bluff
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch1

ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch
London, December 2o.-The bulk of the
morning papers agree that Premier Lloyd
George expressed the views of the Brit
ish nation in his speech in the house of
commons dealing with Germanys peace
proposal. Lloyd George" says The
Times. Expressed the thoughts and
wishes of the nation and laid down a
program which will command its hearty
support" This is the tone and comment
most of the other papers who hold that
the premier's answer and Lord Curzon's
crate in phrase, and firm and unanswer-
able in substance" These papers de-
clare that the nation is prepared and will
s Mh,llLnS,y undertake all sacrifices fore:
necessary to insure those ends of repair
alton and security which the allies de-
mand from the central powers. The con-
census of opinion of thepress is that the
premier's speech did not necessarily
close the door on peace negotiations.
UNITED Press Dispatch.J
London, Eng, December 20.-Now
that the public of Great Britain has
had the opportunity of studying over
and thoroughly digesting the utter
ances of Premier Lloyd George on
the question of peace, it is the unani-
nous view of the British people that
negotiations for peace can open only
when Germany is willing to submit
definite proposals, embodying the
vital points at issue. Germany knows
how to start actual negotiations for
peace, and she can do it when she
has something definite to propose
1t is seen that the course taken by
Lloyd-GeOrge has destroyed the i'm
preston that Germany has sought to
make on the world, that Great Britain
was debating to her allies He held
back until Petrograd and Paris hao
spoken. Then London spoke and
showed that the three great nations
had come to the same conclusion in
dependently
Does Not Look Like Peace Talk.
Georges program for uni
versal military service, and for the
government taking over the British
shipping and mining interests does
not look as if he meant to yield il
the least to Germany for the sake of
an early peace. In all of these meas
ures the British public is acquiesc-
ing without a murmur, except that
raised some objection to the taking
over of the coal mines. But all OF
these measures have been anticipated
for some time, and Lloyd George in
tends to put an end to the big war
profits that certain interests have
been enjoying. nj saa baf fs45a5 u
lrol a2.d Calls Talk All Bluff
~ Berlin, Germany. December 20
Mere, bluff is what Germany calls the
rejection of the German peace pro-
posals by Russia, France and Eng
q land. So says the German press, and
high officials of the German govern
ment and it seems all the rest of the
people take the same view. They be-
live that the allies are really anxious
for peace, but do not wish to seem
too eager.
Berlin is not pessimistic Berlin
thinks it only a question of short
time when peace negotiations will be
under way in dead earnest. Berlin
says the bold talk that comes from
Petrograd, Paris and London cannot
be weighed against the sweeping
Teutonic successes in Rumania. Ber-
J lin says the bold talk is not to be
taken seriously.
= Uncle Sam Desires Peace.
1"f UNITED Press Dispatch
Washington, December 20.-The
United States, in common with all
other neutral nations of the world, is
DESTROYS of peace that will be last
ing and dependable. President Wilson
feels that this nation is not interest
ed so much in finding out who is re-
sponsible for the great war, as in
seeing that peace is brought about
that will bring with it assurances that
the world ill not be plunged into
such another Armageddon. This ma
ton, along with others, has been
seriously affected by the great war,
Notwithstanding it's desire to keep
away from the war and it's effects as
much as possible.
The Domestic Program.
ASSOCIATED Press DiSpatch.1
London, December 20.-While passages
of Lloyd Georges speech dealing with
the German peace proposals were print
ed in the late editions yesterday, the
domestic program of the new govern
ment was not published unil today 1t
was too vast and too briefly indicated for
the immediate crystallization of opinion.
Continued on Page Four.