The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-12-14
STARVING NATIONS
FIRST CRY
(Continued from page II
that some German trick was behind

CONTINUED from page II
that some German trick was behins
the proffer."
Most apparent in the German peace
4 offer is the attempt to gain the symp
athy of-neutrals. An attempt to create
dtssention among the entente allies 4
believed to be one consideration of the
1 note and the chanceilor's speech
Lastly the British public believes the
German government desired to make q
play" to the German people to sup
port the oft-repeated cry that Germany
| is merely defending herself agains,
enemies who forced war upon her
England believes there is every indi
cation OF popular unrest in Germany
due to shortage of food and the stag
gering losses of men and material
which she has undergone since 1914.
England and her allies, therefore, in
tend to reject the peace proposals
but before that rejection they intend
to scrutinize every word in the note
and the chancellor's speech for hidden
meanings and to watch all circum-
stances of it's delivery carefully.
Popular approval was emphatically
registered to the first official answer
France, by Premier BRAND. He spoke
to the chamber of deputies outlining
the aims and policies of the recon
structed French government-and in
connection with the explanation, took
occasion solemnly to warn France and
her allies to watch for the poison in
the Teutonic offers.
Call IL First Stem.
by Carl w. Alderman, United Press
Staff Correspondent
BERLIN, Dec. >14.-"Well, it would
have been too much Ito expect the
move to succeed Immediately; but
it's the first step,'-about sums up
today the Be&in general public and
the press view of the reception in
entente capitals Of Germany's peace
proffers.
Newspaper editorial comment was
distinctly pessimistic. Count Won
Reventlow, of the -Tages Zeitung, led
In the pessimism, in an "I-told-you-
SO" editorial. Conrad Haussmann, a
member of the reichstag, writing in
the Tageblatt declared:
N"Germany has received her Christ
mas present now. While the snow
is on the ground, it is wrong to hope
for flowers before May.
EnoIand's Partial Answer.
LONDON, Dec. 14.-Andrew Bonar
Law today made partial answer to
the German peace proposals by quot
ing the statement made by former
Premier Asquith when the last vote
of credit was asked of the house of
commons.
There must be adequate repara-
ton for the past and adequate secur-
ity for the future" he said, quoting
Asquith.
Bonar Law prefaced his statement
with the declaration that the peace
proposals had not as yet been re-
ceived and until that time the Minis
tiers of the new Lloyd George govern
ment could not discuss them.
/. He added that he.would prefer that
the house of commons likewise re-
frain from discussion of such pro-
posals.
"All l can say now" he concluded.
"is to repeat Premier Asquith's
words at the time OF the last vote
Of credit"
People are Anxious.
BERNIE, Dec. 14.-Great crowds
stood all night long outside of iBer-
lin newspaper offices awaiting news
from entente capitals as to Germany's
peace proposals, dispatch from the
German capital declared today. Popu-
lar excitement and interest in what
the allied powers will do in reply,
continued undated today.