Evening star., 1916-12-15

/ entente alileS.
The proposal has been received by
| official Petrograd without an atom OF
sympathy. An official of the foreign
Office has made the following state
| ment. which has been issued by the
semi official PetroErad news agency:
| The new appeal of our enemies Is
| not their first attempt to throw upon
| the entente powers the responsibility
| for the war they let loose. In order to
| obtain the support of the German peo-
pies, who are tired of the war, the Ber-
| lin government many times has had
| recourse to fallacious words Of peace
| and has frequently. in order to animate
| its troops, offered proSpectSNof an early
peace. 1t promised peace when War
| saw was taken, when Serbia was con-
| quered. forgetting that such promises
| untitled would create profound dis
| trust
Carried Outside Germany.
In it's further efforts. which are sim
/ ilarly due to the same interested con-
| siderations. the German government is
obliged to carry this question outside
| of Germany. All the world recalls
these attempts. notably it's Ballons
d d'Essai. which were sent up in neutral
countries. particularly the United
States.
|
which deceived nobody. Germany attempt
ed TO create a peace atmosphere, which
| would allow her to consolidate her ag-
gressive and imperialistic tendencies.
| while sowing discord between the allies,
by seeking to make public opinion believe
that separate pourparlers were in progress
between her and the entente powers.
There also were persistent reports of a
separate peace.
'.In view Of the fact however. that the
allies with strong unanimity rejected all
these attempts. our enemies had to think
of a more serious plan. They today are
making. in spite OF their confidence in
their military and economic power, an ap-
peal to the United States. Spain and
Switzerland. announcing their anxiety to
enter into negotiations for peace
Lack of Sincerity Evident"
The lack of sincerity and the object
of the German proposals is evident. The
enemy governments have need Of heroic
measures to complete the gaps in their
| armies. Germany is projecting a sort OF
! serfdom in the guise of compulsory
military service. The German govern.
| people and to prepare it for fresh sacri.
/ fees, is striving to create a favorable
| atmosphere with the following thesis
| We are struggling for our existence
We are pfopoSiHS peace, II Is refused
| US. Therefore. the responsibility for
the continuation of the war falls upon
our enemies.
The object pursued by Germany
however. is clear. She speaks of re-
spsct for the rights of orther nations
but at the same time she has ALREADY
| introduced into Belgium. Serbia, Monte
negro and Poland a regime Of terror
and violence. As for the future Ger
| many has proclaimed an illusory inde-
tafvf1 Dbl, Il
divide Serbia between Bulgaria and
Austria. economically to subiueate
| Belgium, and cede to Bulgaria part OF
| Rumanian territory.
True Aspirations Shown.
Everywhere the idea of the hege.
mony of Germany predominates The
| latest speeches of Won Bethmann Holl-
! veg show the true aspirations of the
! German government. But today, wher
| the entente powers have proclaimed
| their unsha kable determination to con.
| tinue the war to successful end ant
| to prevent Germany from establishing
| her heSemony. no favorable ground ex
| lists for peace negotiations
/ our enemies knew of the speeche,
| of Lloyd George, BRAND and Bosell
and the statement of TrepoH: the,
| were, therefore, assured that their pro
not because the entente powers-th,
| friends of peace-are not inclined tina
way. but because the peace offered b,
Germany is snare for public opinion
carefully avoid mentioning the condi
tons of peace.
i Condemned to Failure.
we are sure that this new enterpris
of the d:sturbers of peace will lea,
no one astray. that it is conden,ne,
to failure, like the previous efforts.
The entente powers would assum
a terrible responsibility before thei
| peoples. before all humanity. IL the
| suspended the struggle against Ger
many's latest attempt to profit by tn
present situation to implant her hege
mony in Europe. All the innumerabl
sacrifices of the allies would be nulli
fed by a premature peace with tn
enemy. who Is exhausted. but not ye
brought DOWN
The firm determination of the en-
tente powers to continue the war to
final triumph can be weakened by n
illusory proposals of the enemy"
Tells of Excitement in Berlin.
LONDON, December ia dispatc
to the Star from Bern describing tn
excitement in Berlin Immediately afte
the speech of Chancellor Won Bethman
Hollweg Tuesday expresses the vie,
that it indicates the hopes of the peopl
that the move will bring peace With
| a measurable distance.
AS soon as the gist of the speech wa
known. adds the message, men rushe
wildly from cafes and restaurant,
snatched newspapers from stranger
] and shook hands with each other, Will
women crowded the churches, wher
Protestant pastors and Catholic priest
l offered extemporary prayers for peac,
4 The popular excitement, according +,
the message. was reflected on the Ber
, lin and Frankfort bourses on Wednes
g day morning. when at the openin
shares rose with astonishing rapidit,
v only to collapse suddenly on the re
ceipt of unfavorable forecasts Of tn
: probable tenor of the entente reply.
, Emperor William is reported by til
!, correspondent to be in Berlin confer
ring with Field Marshal Won Hinder
burg. and the heads OF the Germa
states and planning to remain ther
until the entente answer is received.