Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-12-13
Great Britain in no Humor to End
War, But Will it is Believed Fight
to Finish.

nearer, but still far off.
Chancellor Won Bethmann-Holweg'
speech before the Relchstag IS no sur
prise to British officiaidom. 1t has
met with cold and unresponsive re-
ception here, however, for no mat
ter how war-weary the people are
they are in no frame Of mind to ac'
cept peace now.
Hollweg has delayed too long. He
should have spoken before the politl'
cal crisis in the allied capitals. No"
the people interpret it as request
for and net an offer of peace.
Before the Allies can reply they
must hold a joint conference. This
undoubtedly will be done Immediately
The reply indubitably will contain
terms which Germany will not be like
" to meet, with the war map in its
present condition. Premier Lloyd
George probably will give the official
announcement of the British attitude
in Parliament in the session early
next week. His present views are wei!
known, and it is safe to assume
that they will govern the nature OF
the reply.
Britain is unprepared for peace.
The statements of the Kaiser and his
Chancellor have aroused tremendous
interest throughout Great Britain.
but they have caused no excitement
The people of England have always
eypected the fulfillment of the
pledges made in Asquith's Guild Hall
speech. They have always expected
to beat Germany by the force oil
arms, They are not vindictive; pride
and prestige count for MUCK, but
Justice and security count for infinite
ly more.
Premier Lloyd Georges task, which
REQUIRED heroic measures before ber-
En's announcement of Gerlnaay'S ~;''t-'
inpness to end hostilities, is now i'm
greater. He stands be-
tween two forces the enemy and
peace. Upon his decision rests the
future of Europe. No figure in his
torv has had a heavier burden to
bear. He must decide whether the
further sacrifice of millions in money
and thousands of lives is justified.
If Lloyd-George's views are index
of his coming decision the Premiers
reply will not at this time accept
Germany's offer of peace by negotla-
tion. That may come later, but no"
the Allies are confident that the mill
tarv situation will be more favorable
to them next year. When the Kaiser
and the Chancellor are willing to sur
re, der Constantinople and the Gold
on Horn to Russia, when they are
ready to restore Alsace and Lorraine
r. France, to evacuate Belgium, Ser
bia Poland and other small countries,
and to make due reparatlon then
neace bv negotiation is likely. Though
Asouith no longer heads the country
his declarations at the bar of the
Houso of Commons on October ~,
last year, and in the Gulldhall on
November 9, still express the posi-
ton of Great Britain.
Lloyd-George's supporters say:
"We cannot quit now. If we accepted
tho German offer it would be the
acknowledgement of defeat. This is
the sign that Germany is cracking
Other offers will follow. Austria
Turkey and Bulgaria are so sick OF
the war that they forced the Kaiser
into making the offer. v
Germany is like poker player
who at 2 o'clock in the morning. with
several mountains of chips before
him finds his luck is turning and an
nonnces that he must quit, because
+be doctor has ordered him to avold
late hours"