The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-12-29
nv Associated Press.)


London. Dec. 2S.-Opinion here on
the reply of the Central Powers to
the Bolsheviki peace terms, as far
as can pe judged from the editorials
in the morning newspapers follows
two main line s. On one hand it seems
to be felt that the Central Powers
have made a perfectly sincere offer
to end the war Immediately, while on
the other, it is declared that they
have set a cunning trap IN which
they hope, although vainly, to catch
the Allies.
The former view is not confined to
papers generally regarded as having
pacifist learnings. 1t is supported
strongly, for instance, by the con-
servative Daily Express, which stands
uncompromisingly for victory over
the Central Powers. In all papers
taking this view the statement of
the Central Powers is regarded as
being addressed less to Russia than
to the Allies collectively and the Of
fer made through Count Czernin is
assumed to be an initial proposal
which the Central powers probably
are prepared to modify in the course
of bargaining. for nowhere are the
terms of the Central Powers regard
I'd as entirely acceptable in their
present form. The Express says:
1.-THE terms may be taken as Ger
rnany's first bid. The proposals are,
of course, wholly inadequate, but it is
significant that the idea of conquest
has been abandoned completely. This
has beoun to realize the true position
with which she is confronted.
"At the same time the demand OF
he allies for repration is ignored
totally. There is no doubt that
the negotiations are a form of
camouflage by which Germany is at
tempting to talk to the allies through
Russia 1t is a general peace that
Germany and Austria Hungary want
and behind Czernin's words there is,
we thing, a perfectly sincere desire to
end the war at once. The offer. for
what it is worth, is obviously gen.
u.ne
Germany is pledged definitely to
the principle of restitution, thereby
hluntlv repudiating Won Tirpitz and
the other Pan-Germans.
stAn authoritative allied reply to
Count Czern:n might be demon
stration to the German people that
the Allies have no wish to contrive
their destruction, hinder their devel-
opment or threaten their indepen-
dence. When they once understand
what the allies stand for and what
really are their intentions. the Ger
man people themselves will COM
plete the destruction of that militar-
SIN which has set out to conquer
The world
The Daily Chronicle says it is a
striking fact that the Central Pow
ers have accepted the formula of no
lamentations and no indemnities and
continues:
THE new peace offensive Of the
Central Powers is meant, not pri-
narily for Russia, but for the Allies
Mt large and especially the United
'tates. Coming at the same time as
,e-eats and warnings of tremendous
German efforts on the Western
front, it Is no doubt merely the
forerunner of proposals more formal
in character.
The Daily News which warmly en-
.do-sed the letter of the Marquis OF
ansdowne and is regarded as being
tinoed with pacifism, contends that
germany had to choose between he,
extremists and her moderates
IS no peace formula could pos
ri5ly satisfy both Count Revent-
Cow and Phillipp Scheidemann.
Nothing could be more ill-ad-
vised. it says, than a general de-