Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-03

By the Associated Press.
BERLIN, January g. via London.
January 3. 1880 am.-United States
Ambassador Gerard took advantage of
New Year call yesterday to discuss
the entente answer to Germany's peace
proposal with Chancellor Won Beth
mann Hollweg.
The ambassador is believed to have
learned what possibility there is of
Germany acting favorably on a re-
newed request for conditions of peace
should the United States make such a
move.
Language Deemed Insulting.
The reply Of the entente to the peace
proposals of the central powers is dis
cussed at great length this morning by
the newspapers. which base their re-
marks on the unofficial press version of
the note as received here from French
sources. The newspapers are unani-
nous in saying the answer of the en-
tente Is only what was to be expected
IN view OF the utterances Of statesmen
OF the hostile nations. The opinion is
expressed that the note was addressed
ASSS ~ ehC SShlidl pO"cIS Inan TO tine
people of the entente Countries and to
neutrals, hence the strong declamatory
language, calculated, according to the
German opinion, further to infiame pas
s1ons against the Teutonic allies. In
particuiar. 1t Is declared. the section
devoted to Belgium is intended ex-
pressiy for the American people.
In general, the answer is regarded as
the stiffest and most brusoue possible
ana 70 be couched in insulting and cal
umniating terms never before seen In
an international document. All the
newspapers agree that the only answer
the central powers can give Is with the
sword; that the war must be continued
until the allies themselves sue for
peace.
Only Few See Hope.
Only q. few newspapers see even q
faint hope that peace still may be at.
tainab1e within a reasonable time.
Curiously enough the supernationlist
pan-American Taeglische Rundschau
maintains . feeble show Of Optimism
saying: The thought Of peace is moi
quenched by this rejection" But even
this utterance is qualified by the ex-
PLANTATION that peace can come only
through failure of the entente plans OF
conquest and the crushing of Germany
The Tageblatt also believes the idea OF
though the attempt be made to- bury it
under a thousand arguments. peace will
continue to rise up mightier than ever
after every failure to achieve expected
victory"
The socialist newspaper vorwaerts,
which has been the leading peace organ
of Germany for many months, still
holds that the policy of attempting to
find new means of terminating the war
must continue, but that the defense of
<hA rtrry w %
ging. It contends that the responsibility
for continuance of the war rests with
the entente.
Think Peace Is Impossible.
LONDON. January 3.-Comments of the
German papers on the entente reply to
the German peace proposal are sent by
Reuters correspondent at Amsterdam, as
the universal conviction that
peace now is impossible and that the CEN
trail powers must continue to prosecute
the war with the utmost vigor.
The Berlin Lokal Anzeiger considers
that nobody will be shocked, because the
entente's refusal was anticipated
But" 1t adds, ''every one will be sur
prised and shocked at the shallowness,
levity and mendacity Of the reasons given
for the refusal. and it is difficult to ex-
plain how ten serious men were able to
affix their signatures to the document
blushing. Our answer can only
be given on the battlefield"
The Vossische Zeitung says: "An possi-
bility Of further negotiations has disap-
peared under this scornful reply. There
Is only one re5oiner, namely, warfare,
until the cold steel of our arms has
brought the fever temperature Of our
enemies down to something near normal"
Sees Only Absolute ono"
The Berlin Tageblatt says: I'VE would
gladly have written Peace be unto thee
over the gate of the New Year, but II
would be childish to seek in the entente's
solute no. Who in the world can now
1oubt that the entente plans. which aim
It the dismemberment of Germany, Aus
ria Hungary and Turkey, will be reso-
utely repelled by the German people?''
The KreuZzeitung says: THE form of
he entente's rejection makes it an in
suit Our reply can only be given with
he sword"
The Vorwaerts says: "Since our enc
nies desire to continue the war. no
.hoice remains to the German people.
There will be no illustion that behind
he refusal lies. the hope of finally
It is to the interest of the whole Ger
nan people to Illustrate this design"
The Rhenische Westphalische ZeitunR
,ays: The German people to one man
low will gather around Won Hinden-
,urg. The last plea for Indulgence
weapons must come into use on the
and and sea and in the air. We know
he points where Great Britain is vul-
lerable."