The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-01-04
ALLIES REFUSE
PEACE OFFER
FROM GERMANY
Reparation and Security or the
War Continues. .
CALL FOE PERIL TO WORLD
Entente's Answer Asserts Berlin Must
Give Acceptable Terms Before Con-
ference Is Held-Note Called
War Maneuver.

War Maneuver.
Paris, Jan. I'm reply to the prof
fers of Germany and her allies for a
peace conference the entenet allies, in
Il collective note, declare that they 're-
fuse, to consider a proposal which is
empty and insincere." The note was
handed to the American ambassador,
William Graves Sharp, by Premier Bri-
and, and was made public simultane.
ously in London and Paris. @
Reparation Asked First. ...
The entente allied governments in
sist that no peace is possible so long as
they have not secured reparation for
violated rights and liberties and the
free existence of small states and have
not brought about settlement for the
future security of the world. H.,
The note declares that the proposal
of the central powers is not an, offer
of peace but u war maneuver.%, 1t is
declared to be founded on calculated
misinterpretation of the character Of
the struggle in the past, the present
and the future"
Gives BeIgium's Aims.
The note does not specifically outline
the definite war aims of any of the en-
tente governments except Belgium. Be-
fore the war, it is pointed out, Bel
GUM asked for nothing but to live in
harmony with her neighbors. Assaulted
in spite of the treaties guaranteeing
her invioability, Belgium, the note
says, has taken up arms to defend her
independence and "her neutrality vio-
! lated by Germany"
Belgium's aim which is declared to
be the only aim of her king and gov
eminent, is described as .''the re-estab-
lishment of peace and justice. But
they only desire peace which would
4 assure to their country legitimate
reparation, guarantees and safeguards
for the future"
Bames Germany for War.
The note, which is the joint act of
Belgium, France, Great Britain, Italy,
Japan, Montenegro, Portugal, Rou-
mania, Russia and Serbia, declares
that the present strife was desired, pro.
vOked and declared by Germany and
Austria-Hungary, aud that Germany
made no effort to bring about pacific
solution of the trouble between Serbia
and Austria Hungary, as did Great
Britain, France and Russia.
A peace concluded upon the German
] idea would be only to the advantage Of
the central powers, says the note, while
disasters caused by the war demand
penalties, PREPARATION and guarantees.
| Entente's Reply to Germany.
! The text of the allies note in reply
to the German peace proposals follows !:
- "The allied governments of Belgium,
I France, Great Britain, italy, Japan,
Montenegro, Portugal, Roumania, Rus
STA and Serbia, united for the defense
; of the liberty of their peoples and
faithful to engagements taken not to
lay down their arms separately, have
resolved to reply collectively to the
pretended propositions OF peace which
were addressed to them on behalf of
the enemy governments through the in.
, termediary of the United States, Spain,
Switzerland and Holland.
l. Before making any reply the allied
powers desire particularly to protest
against the two essential assertions of
the note of the enemy powers that pre-
tend to throw upon the allies reSpon.
sibility for the war and proclaim the
victory of the central powers: .
"The allied governments cannot adj.
NIT an affirmatio dOubly inexact and
which suflices to render sterile all ten
tative negotiation. The allied nations
have sustained for 80 months war
they did everything TO avoid. They
have shown by their acts their attach
ment to peace. That attachment is as
strong today as it was in 1914. But ii
, is not upon the word of Germany, after
! the violation of its engagements, that
the peace broken by her may be based.
"shsm Proposal" Not Peace Offer.
"A mere suggestion, without state
ment of terms that negotiations should
be opened is not an offer of peace. The
w #Nlit gov
eminent of a sham proposal lacking all
substance and precision would appear
to be less an offer of peace than war
lnaneuver. 1t is founded on calculated
misinterpretation of the character of
the struggle In the past, the present
and the future. is
AS for the past the German note
takes no account of the facts, dates and
figures which establish that the war
was desired, provoked and declared by
Germany and Austria Hungary.
"At The Hague conference 1t was a
German delegate who refused all pro-
posals for disarmament In July, 1914
it was Austria-Hungary who after hav.
ing addressed TO Serbia an unpre-
cedented ultimatum, declared war upon
her in spite of the satisfaction which
had at once been accorded,
"The central empires then rejected
of affaunts made Inv the antentn N