Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-12-20
Legislative Body Unanimously
Adopts Resolution Against
Considering Terms Ger
many Proposes.
EARLY ACTION UNLIKELY
British Press Seems to Favor
Hearing Offer, But Govern
ment Will Make No Def
mite Statement.

London. Dec. 1S.-A dispatch to
Reuters Telegram company from Pc
trograd says:
The duma has unanimously passed
a resolution against the acceptance Of
the German peace proposals after q
spirited speech by the minister of for
eign affairs.
The text of the resolution rs received
here follows:
The duma, having heard the state
ment by he minister of foreign at
fairs, unanimously favOrs a categorical
refusal by the allied governments to
enter, under present conditions. into
any peace negotiations whatever.
1T considers that the German pro-
posals are nothing more than fresh
PROOF OF the weakness OF the enemy and
a hypercritical act from which the en-
envy expects no real success, but by
which it seeks to throw upon others
the responsibility for h war and for
what happened during It. and to excul-
pate Itself before public opinion in
Germany.
Would Not BE Enduring.
1.-The durna considers that a prema-
ture peace would not only be q brief
period of calm, but would involve tho
danger of another bloody war and a
VI SIiO 0GPbOt 61ObG 6nCI1AlCoD ID
the people. 1t considers that q lasting
peace will be possible only after q de-
cisive victory over the military powers
OF the enemy and after definite re-
nunciation by Germany of the aspira-
ton which renders her responsible for
the world war and for the horrors by
which 1t has been accompanied"
M. ~Pokrovsky, in his speech to the
duma, said:
TO attempt at the last moment to
profit by their fleeting territorial con-
quest before their domestic weakness
was revealed. that was the real mean
Ing of the German proposals. In the
event OF failure. they viii exploit at
home the refusal of the allies to ac-
cept peace, in order to rehabilitate the
lettering morale OF their populations.
But there is another senseless mo-
tive in that they fail to understand the
true spirit which anin'ates Russia. Our
enemies deceive themselves with the
vain hope that they will find among US
men cowardly enough to allow them
selves to be deceived. IL only for a mo-
ment. by the lying proposals. That will
not be. The Russian hear will not
yield. All Russia will rally more close
ly around its august sovereign, who de-
clared at III very beginning of the war
that he would not make peace until the
last enemy soldier had left our coun-
try, and for the general collaboration
which constitutes the only sure means
of arriving at the Ind we all have at
heart: namely, the crushing OF the
enemy.
Says Russia Won't Yield.
The Russian government ~repudiates
with Indignation the mere idea of sus-
pending the struggle. thereby permit
ting Germany TO take advantage Of the
last chance She will have of subject
ing Europe to her hegemony. The in
Vulnerable sacrifices already made
would be vain If premature peace were
conceded with an enemy, whose forces
have been shaken. but not broken, and
an enemy who is seeking IL breathing
space by making deceptful offers Of a
permanent peace.
I'm this inflexible decision Russia is
in complete agreement with all her
valiant allies. We are all equally con-
WINGED of the vital necessity of carry
ing on the wal to q victorious end and
no subterfuge by our enemies will pre-
Vent us from following the path to the
enG.'
LIoyd-G George M.
1t appears doubtful today whether
Premier David Lloyd-CseOrge will be
able to go before the house Of COM
mons on Tuesday next. He is making
steady progress owards recovery, but
1t is considered unlikely that his ply
sicians will allow him to speak next
week. as his voice il affected. AT any
rate, it is not expected that the gov
eminent will by that lime he in a po-
sition to make a statement regarding
the German peace proposals.
Philip Snowden. socialist member for
Blackburn. n of the leaders of the
small pacifist group in the house Of
has made known he intends
to state the views of that group in the
It's mber believe that
negotiations hould be opened, IL only
to state the terms OF the entente and
the central lowers.
The Westminster Gazette today says
it will be found that MI. Snowden is
by no means an advocate of peace 1T
any price, and that his party has very
definite Jews Az to the PREPARATION
which Germany shOnld make. The be-
lief of this group that Germany is pre-
pared to grant reasonable terms is not.
however, says the shared
by a majority of the house.
British Press v;sws.
The first essential of peace, in the
opinion of The Nation, is that both
sides snail concede the right tn indo-
pendence of all nations. Commenting
on Germany's peace offer, The Nation
says:
"'The test will come when u answer
Is known n Germany has to decide
whether she will modify her offer and
come nearer to u poaitiOn. The real
Onus for the continuance Of the war
will rest on the sid which maintains
any demand which would be fatal. Is
the independence and future OF any bGa-
liVcrontN N HfT4