Evening journal., 1916-12-14
French EDITOR TO
ADDRESS ROTARIANS
Stephane Lauzanne, Editor
of lie Matin, to Tell of
War Conditions
SAYS PEACE OFFERS
ARE PREPOSTEROUS

Stephane Lausanne, editor-in-chief
Of the lie Matin, leading daily news
paper of Paris, who will address men,
bers of the Rotary Club tonight at the
CITY Club, is to arrive here this after
noon as guest of Dr. William G.
Speakman. The meeting tonight is
the second ladies night and dinner OF
the cub. DR.. Speakman will make a
short address and will show pictures
Of the war taken In the trenches.
In an interview Mr.. Lausanne said
that the Prussian proposals for peace
are prepOsterous and that until mill
tary power Of the Teutonic Allies has
been crushed so that Il uO longer
will be a menace to the peace of
Europe. the Entente Allies will con-
tinue TO fight.
The peace proposals are very en-
couraging for the Allies Mr.. Lau-
zanne said. They are encouraging
because this " the fourth time the
German Chancellor has made such
Overtures and each time he seems
willing 10 grant more to the Allies.
AS / sa d in recent letter to the
editor OF the New York Herald Mr.
Won -Hollweg spoke OF
peace terms on August is. 1915,
again on December 9 that same year
and twice this month. The first time
ne sad a new Europe must be ere
ated; the second time he said Ger
many would cede nothing she had
conquered. Now he offers back Bel
gium, the northern part of France,
&C. and / daresay il we cont nue. to
fight until next spring or autumn he
Will offer even better terms than
those now being cons idered through
out the world.
These terms we cannot consider
for a momsnt;-Frst, btcause we have
no confidence in Germany; second. II
We could have confidence in them, we
would never accept their present
peace terms.
"They speak Of the complete resto-
ration Of Belgium. That means the
restoration OF territory, but not repa-
ration; no. reparation for the towns
burned and pillaged, the men. women
and children massacred, and other
atrocities and indignities committed
in that brave little kingdom. They
speak Of the restoration of Northern
France, but the same thing applies
here-they do not offer reparation.
Where is reparation for those Of US
who did not want this war? France
did not want it. Moreover, they do
not mention the question Of Alsace-
Lorraine. For centuries and centur-
les this wonderful section was French.
II was taken from France by force of
arms forty-hve years ago against the
viii Of the Alsatians. France must
have this back
Then, too, the proposed retention
OF Serbia by the Austrians is absurd.
That would mean that Serbia is 20
be wiped off the map OF Europe We
viii never allow the Serbian people
to be so treated. so blOtted out We
are fighting for the rights of nations
10 be free. We won't let the Huns
destroy nation
There is something more involved
in this struggle than the question Of
territory, Of influence and money.
Perhaps one day we might arrive at
a bargain II those were the only
things TO be considered. but the Al
lies are not fighting alone for those
things. We are fighting for a double
ideal-First, that Europe shall not
IN the future be dominated by Ger
many. and oppressed by Prussian-
ism; second, that we may punish the
people who, in declaring this war
have committed the greatest crime
against humanity I'm all history. They
must be punished II we accept the
protfered terms Germany Will escape
pun shment She would never feel
that she had been beaten. In twenty
years or so she would begin her old
tactics again. We are not fighting
this war now TO fight it over again
in twenty years, or even fifty years.
We want no more war in Europe
Therefore we must punish the peopIe
who wanted this war. who prepared
for II and who declared IT, Bv nun
ishment LIDO not mean the destruction
Of German towns. The Germans must
he made to feel that they are weakest
that they have been beaten. At pres
ont they do not think that.
We have every reaeon to believe
that next spring we will be able 10
heat them and punish them. think
/ am speaking for every Frenchman
in the world when 7 express these
continents"