Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-13
British and French Press
Does Not Take Kindly
to Kaiser's Offer.
TAKE VIEW 1T IS
MEDIATION STEP
leading London Newspapers See in
Proposals an Appeal to Neutra! Ma.
tions-Paris Comment 10 Derisive-
German Catholic Organ Des;snates
Note as Indication Of kaiser's Love
For Peace.

London. Dec. 13.-The German peace
proposal is rejected by the London
Times, which says:
"Germany's proposal bears no re-
lation whatever to the objects for
which we are fighting. 1t is above all
things a symptom of her conscious
weakness. The allies must absolutely
reject any idea of mediation in any
shape or from any quarter as long as
the basis proposed is the triumph Of
might and not right"
Germany's peace proposal caused
the greatest sensation In Scandinavia,
according to Copenhagen dispatch to
tie Exchange telegraph Company.
The Dagens Nyheder, of Copenhagen.
says it learns in authoritative Swedish
circles that it is believed there the
German offer will not meet with i'm
mediate rejection by the allies.
The Copenhagen Politiken believes
that in view 4of what has happened
during the, last few days in Russia,
France and England. it is unlikely
that the allies will agree to start peace
negotiations.
Il Says It's Appeal to NeutraIs.
Germany says the Westminster
Gazette. is aware that the. war is
producing great unrest among neutrals
and 1t is to them rather than to us, in
the first instance, that she is making
her appeal. It is here that Germany
mas prepared her ground. and it Is here
that we have to meet her. We must
be careful from the outset not to be
n,aneuvered on to ground. on which
we shall seem to be in the wrong.
The allies must not refuse to listen
to any proposals made to them in any
regular manner, but they must say
plainly that their agreement to act to-
Gether is incontestable, that all pro-
posals must be made to them Jointly,
and that none will have the slightest
chance Of being considered which
would imply That any Of them should
betray the other"
The paper concludes that the allies
must explain to the American people
whose main preoccupation is in Bel-
GUM and France, it comments, and
who have no interest in the eastern
phase of the struggle-the European
struggle es the entente sees it and per-
suade them to work with them. not for
a mere patching UP. which will lead to
arother war after short breathing
space, but for real reconstruction
which will secure peace and give life
and energy to free institutions.
Armistice Not Suggested.
The disposition this morning was to
withhold comment inasmuch as the ac-
tual proposals had not been received OF,
so far as known, transmitted to the
British government or members Of the
entente. 1t was expected this first for
mality would be accomplished quickly
and that there would DC disclosed what,
thHs far, has been largely matter OF
conjecture, whether any specific terms
have been put forward by the Teu-
tonic allies.
One of the factors which, according
to an opinion expressed here, initiates
against acceptance Of the proposal Is
that the opening of negotiations would
necessarily be followed by an armistice.
No specific suggestion Of any armistice
is made in the proposal so far as indi-
Gated by the unofficial reports received,
but 1t Is said that precedent of 1866,
in the Austro Germany peace negotia-
tions and Of 1870, in the .Franco-Ger-
man negoriauons, establishes that an
armistice and suspension Of all mill
tary activity follows the opening OF
negotiations.