The Sentinel=record., 1916-12-20

1 has been followed by note presented U by the United States without note or comment The answer by this govern ment vii he given in full accord withv all our ellies
 Na,ra.Y there has been an inter- change of views, not upon the note, because it is recently arrived, but upon the speech which impelled il and as the note itself is practically only reproduction or uaraphase Of the speech, the subject matter Of inc note itself has been discussed informally between the allies. l am glad to be able to state that we each separately taud independently arrived at identical conclusions
 "I am very glad that the first an SHer given to the statement Of t1e German chancellor was given by 1 France and Russia. They have the unquestioaable right to give the first answer to such an institution. The enemy is still on their soil and their sacrifices have been the greater.
 The answer they have given has l "lN1uy oPb'dASu III Uio popSlb dhu 1 simply stand here to give clear and definite support to the stutement they have already made.
 Any man Or set of men who wan toaly or without sufficient cause pro long terrible war like this would have on his soul crime that oceans of tears could not cleanse.
 "On the other hand, it is equally true that any men or set of men who from sense of weariness or despair abandoned the struggle without achieving the high purposes for which We entered it, would he guilty of the costliost act of poltroonery ever per petrated by any statesman.
 I've accepted this war for an ob- iect and a world object and the war will end when the object is attained under God. l hope it will never end until that time
 Are we likely to achieve the object by accepting the invitation of the Ger man chancellor? What are the pro p0sa,s? There are none.
 ITO enter on the invitation of Ger many proclaimlng herself victorious without any knowledge of what pro posals she proposes to make, into conference, is to put our heads into moose with the rope end in the hands Of Germany.
 This country is not altogether without experience in these matter. : This i. not tha first time We have fought a great military despotism oye.shadowue Europe and it won't be the first time We have helped to overthrow a military despotism. We have uncomfortable historical mem ories of these things and can recan one of the greatest of these despots, whose fayorite device was to appear in the garb of an ange. of peace, eith- CT when he wished time 10 assimilate his conquests or to. re-organize his forccs for fresh conquests or, second iy, when his subjects showed symp. toms of fatigue and war weariness, an appeal was always made in the name oi humanity. He demanded an end to the bloodshed at which he professed himself horrified although he himself was mainly responsible.
 "Oar ancestors were taken in once and bitterly they end Europe rued it. The time was spent in re-organizing his forces for deadlie. attack on the liberty of Europe
 "A few examples of this kind cause us to regard this not with a consid- erable measure of reminiscent dis Qaetrde
 We feel that we ought to know before We can give favorable consid- eration to such an invitation that Ger many is prepared to accede to the only terms on which it is possible peace can be obtained and maintained ! m Europe. Those terms have been stated repeatedly here and outside. To quote the leader of the house last week:
 " Preparation and guarantee against repetition so there shall be no mis- take, and it is important that there should be no mistake in a matter Of death to millions
 Let me repeat-complete restitp- ton, full reparation and efiectuai guarantee.
 Did the German chancellor use e single phrase to indicate that he was prepared to accept such peace? Was lthere a hint Of restitution? Was there a suggestion Of reparation? Was there an implication Of any security for the future that this outrage on civillza- ton would not again be penetrated at the first profitable opportunity?
 "The very substance and style of Ithe speech constitutes a denial Of peace on the only terms on which peace is lr rcssib.e. He is not even con- scious now that Germany has commit ted any offense against the rights of free nations Listen to this from the , note.
 Net for an instant have they
 (the central powers) sweryed from , the conviction that respect of the , rights Of other nations is not in any