The Ordway new era., 1917-01-05

these terms WOuiu uV o' aftar
vantage to the aggressors WIZ, ,ha,r
imagining that they would reach ss,ar .r
goal in two months. diseoVercu ~.
two years that they couiu he'e' ."
tain II. - a;a,sters
"As for the future, the aisaS.', !,
caused by the German declarat'on v,
war and the innumcrable oul" 'i;o,
committed nv Germany and her alH,'
against both belligerents and neutt"l",
demand penalties, reparatloh a
guarantees Germany avoids heh''oA
| OF any of these.
To Influence Course OF war. -
| ."Jn reality these overtures ihhuc W
the central powers are nothing ', mo-
| than A calculated attempt TO lhliu, a,
| tho future course OF war anu 10 emu ~
by imposing a German peace. ihe W
! iect of these overtures is 10 CIV
| disssension in public opinion III "a"
allied countries. But that puOlIc op'n
| ion has in spite OF all the sacrlICcS
endured nv the allies already given 10
answer with admirable tirmness anu
has denounced the empty pretense Vi
the declaration OF the enemy powers
"Thev have the further object VI
/ stiffening public opinion in Germany
| and in the countries allied TO her' one
and all severely tried by their losses
| worn out by economic pressure. an
/ crushed by the supreme elioTt ""'S"
| has been imposed upon their lhn"o'
/ tants. T.,
They endeavor to deceive ana III,
| timidate public opinion in heuti"
countries. whose inhabitants nave IoHE
since made up their mind where th'
/ initial responsibilities lie and are lar
too enlightened to favor the designs
of Germany by abandoning the defense
| of human freedom.
FINALLY, these oycrturcs attempt 10
Justify in advance in the eyes .. lhH
world a series of crimes, submarih"
warfare. deportations. forced labor ana
forced enlistment OF the inhabitants
against their own country and viola
tions Of neutrality.
Fully conscious OF the gravitF OF
this moment. but equally conscious OIL
its requirements, the allied govern
ments. closely united TO one another
and in perfect sympathy with iheIr
peoples, refuse to consider proposal
which is empty and insincerc.
Once again the allies declare that
no peace is possible so long as they
have not secured reparatiun for violat-
ed rights and liberties. the recognition
of the principle OF natiOnalities and OF
the free existence of small states; so
long as they have not brought about i
settlement calculated to end at ono"
and for all forces which have Consl-
tuted a perpetual menace to the ma
tions and to afford the only effective
guarantee for the future security OF
the world.
Must Have Rcparation.
"In conclusion the allied powers
think it necessary to put forward the
following considerations. which show
the special situation of Belgium after
two and a half years OF war:
In virtue of the International treat
les signed by five great European
powers. of whom Germany was one,
Belgium enjoyed before the war a
special status. rendering her territory
inviolabe and placing her. under the
guarantee OF the powers, outside all
European conflicts, She was. however,
in spite of these treaties. the first To
suffer the aggression of Germany. For
this reason the Belgian government
thinks It necessary to define the aims
which Belgium has never ceased TO
pursue while fighting side by side
with the entente powers for right and
justice.
Belgium has always scrupulously
fulfilled the duties which her neutral
ity imposed upon her. She has taken
up arms to defend her independence
and her neutrality violated by Ger
many and to show that she remains
faithful TO her internationa! obliga-
tions"