The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1916-12-29
DUMA BARS PEACE
PASSES RESOLUTION AGAINST
ACCEPTING oERMANY's PRO-
POSAl TO END WAR.
SEE DANGER OF ANOTHER war
Considers Lasting Peace Will BE Pos
sibIe Only After q Decisive Victory
Over Military Power Of the Enemy
Allies to Answer Note.

London, Dec. 1S.-A dispatch to Reu-
tiers Telegraph company from Petro-
grad says:
THE duma has unanimously passed
n resolution against the acceptance of
the German peace proposals after a
spirited speech by the minister of for
eign affairs"
Stand Taken by Duma.
The text of the resolution as re-
ceived here follows.
"The duma. having heard the state
ment by the minister Of foreign affairs,
unanimously favors a categorical re-
fusal by the allied governments TO
enter. under present conditions. into
any peace negotiations whatever.
at considers that the German pro-
posals are nothing more than fresh
proof of the weakness of the enemy
and hypocritical act from which the
enemy expects no real success. but by
which 1t seeks TO throw upon others
the responsibility for the war and for
what happened during it and to ex-
culpate itself before public opinion In
Germany.
Danger Of Another War.
1.-The duma considers that a prema-
ture peace would be not only brief
period of calm but would involve the
danger of another bloody war and re-
newal of the deplorable sacrifices by
the people. 1t considers that lasting
peace will be possible only after de-
cisive victory over the military power
of the enemy and after definite renun-
citation by Germany of the aspiration
which makes her responsible for the
world war and for the horrors by which
ii has been accompanied"
Plan to Reply to Note.
London, Dec. 1S.-Public opinion, as
represented by the British press. is
largely occupied in discussing the brief
expression made by Andrew Bonar
Law, the government leader in the
house of commons, that the British
governments policy still was based on
adequate reparation for the past and
security for the future"
1t is noticeable that several influ.
entail newspapers take the view that
of not summarily refusing TO consider
the proposal and for an enunciatiOn
of the essential aims and objects fOr
which the entente allies are contend.
ing. The Manchester Guardian, re-
fiecting provincial sentiment. and the
newspapers taking this view.
Refusal II in Offensive Form.
The Westminster Gazette says il the
German proposal takes an offensive
form and appears as if demanded by
conquerorS from the vanquished the
only reply to the insult would be con
temptuous silence and continues:
'But if it is sincere we should de
sire to answer with q reasonable ex
PLANTATION of why our principal aims
cannot be compromised and what
kind of European system we thinl
necessary to secure the future"
Germans Demand Rights.
Berlin. Dec. 1S.-The national liberal
faction in the reichstag, which attempt
ed unsuccessfully to debate the chan
cellor's peace Overtures, has addressed
a communication to him protesting
against what it terms the complete
elimination of the people as represent
ed by the reichstag in deciding botf
Polish independence and peace mat
tiers.
The communication complains tha
the reichstag was only informed Of the
steps taken in both cases after they
had been completed acts, without Civ
ing the peoples representatives an op
pOrtunity either to consult, cooperate
or protest.
The protestants conclude that Ger
many's peace terms must now be set
tied definitely, since the overtures de
clare that the four central powers gov
ernmentS will make proposals. leading
| in their conviction, TO q lasting peace
They point out that If these proposals.
pie would be In a position of receiv
ing peace in which they had had n
word and demand imperatively tina
the reichstag be accorded its right t
share in deciding all questions concern
ing conditions after the war.
Demand People Be Recognized.
The chancellor is reminded that h
has repeatedly called attention TO tn
moral greatness unexempliffed sacr
fee and wonderful spirit of the Germa
people" and the protestants insis
that such people must have tn
right in future to express thei
views through the reichstag. TIL
communication declares that, on til
occasion of a situation so far reachin
in its consequences as the present an
no which the whole future of the fl
therland depends. there must be rels
ton of confidence between the peopl
and the government. which has bee
lacking in the past.
England Asks Pay.
London, Dec l5.-Andrew Bons
Law. chancellor of the excheQuer. sal
in the house OF commons that no pr
posals for peace had yet been r
ceived by the British government fro
the central powers. He odded TN
the entente allies required adequa
reparation for the past and adequa
security for the future.