The Washington times., 1916-12-31
ALLIES REJECTION OF GER
MANY'S ADVANCES

Funlted undef the cause VI Inc eh-
tente, replied with an idsntic note
to the advances Of the Teitonic ma
tions, looking toward opening peace
negotiations. II the note had been
less confident, vigorous and final,
perhaps less significance would have
attached to the fact that a single
word sufficed for all the ten govern
ments. But the tone Of the. retort,
the contemptuous. rejection Of Ger
man faith as the basis for consider
ing peace. The assumption Of abso-
lutte confidence In q conclusion Of the
war that will make II possible for
them to enforce their own terms
these things must carry conviction
that the allies do not expect, desire,
nor need peace now.
Possibly q considerable section OF
the German people will be surprised
at the firm quality Of the commune
cation. Certainly nobody else will
be. II Is impossible to Judge very
accurately the state Of German opin-
ion, or to what extent that opin-
ion 10 beginning TO force itself on
the respectful consideration OF the
German government. But II is GER
tain that the German people have
been consistently assured by their
rulers that the war was won, and
for many months have been puzzled
to understand why, that being true,
IL didn't end. Why should their
enemies 70 on endlessly fighting In
a hopeless cause7 Why should not
their own government make peace,
II the war were really won7 These
questions have been more and more
urged in Germany and Austria, and
there has been no satisfactory an
swer.
The refusal which is now 80 un-
eompromisingly voiced by tho ten
entente countries was inevitable.
Peace now would have been, as the
entente note points. based on the
"war map;" on the assumption OF
Germany that she Is the victor. II
was not to be presumed for a mo-
ment that, with command Of the seas,
with unimpaired economic power
now fairly demonstrating It's vast
superiority TO that Of the central en-
pires. with great armies In being
and steadily growing more powerful
with almost the whole world or
ganized into industrial and economic
support for their cause, with a great
ultimate preponderance In numbers
and wealth. the entente countries
would weaken now.
Precisely as this newspaper has
repeatedly pointed out, so the en-
tente countries now declare that the
German ~peaee" move was really a
threat that, unless peace were grant
ed now on German terms, unrestrict-
ed submarine terrorism would be in
voked against the whole maritime
world. Az the entente note states
il:
They endeayor TO deceive and In
timidats public opinion In neutral
countries whose inhabitants have
long since made up their minds
where the initial responsibilities lie
and are far too enlightened 10 favor
the designs OF Germany by aban-
doninE the defense Of human free
dom
Finally these overtures attempt to
Justify In advance In tho eyes OF
the world a new series or crimes
submarine warfare. deportations.
forced labor and forced enlistment
Of the Inhabitants against their
own countries. and violations OF
neutrality.
Despite their rejection Of the Ger
man move at this time-a rejection
that unquestionably will be made
Just rs final In the forthcoming re-
ply to President Wilson's appeal
il is to be noted that the allies lay
down no conditions which will make
il difficult to initiate peace discus
sions when more opportune time
shall have approached. There is nc
swashbuckling, no threatening, nc
arrogance in excessive demands
Rather, the conditions which the en-
tente countries generally outline am
still such as Germany has pretend
ed. at least. in a general way to view
approvingly. There is a very def
mite indication that the peace con
ference will have to consider, aloni
with terms for ending this war, thu
conditions for preventing future
wars; and that Germany has alread,
rejected for the present at least. TIL,
summary of the allies insistences il
in this paragraph of their reply:
Fully conscious of the gravity OF
this moment. but equally conscious
If It's requirements, the allied gov
ornments. closely united TO one an-
other and in perfect sympathy wtn
their Peoples. refuse to consider "A
Iruposai which Is empty and insln-
cerc. Once again the allies declare
THAI 20 peace Is possible no lonG as
they have not secured reparation
for .Iolated rights and liberties the
of no nrinciola nf