The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-01-19
GERMANY STATES
BLAME FOR WARTS
NOW WITH ALLIES
HANDS NEUTRAL NATIONS NOTE
CONCERNING REPLY OF ALLIES
TO TEUTON PEACE PROPOSAL
SENT IN DECEMBER.
CLAIMS FOES AVOIDED
Definite TALK OF PEACE
Denies Proposition for Peace on Part
of Central Powers Was Without
Sincerity and lmportance-En-
tente Powers Were to
Blame for Continuance.

/ Blame for Continuance.
Berlin, Jan. 10. = Germany handed
neutral governments a note Thursday
concerning the reply to the Allies tt
the German peace proposals, the Over
seas News Agency announces.
1t is first stated, says the News
agency announcement, that the govern
ment has received the reply of the
Allies to the note of December II, con
tanning proposition to enter at once
into peace negotiations. The note con-
| tinueS:
! Our adversaries declined this prop
osition, giving as the reason that it is
a proposition without sincerity and
| without Importance. The form in
| which they clothe their communication
excludes an answer to them, but the
| imperial government considers it i'm
portant to point out to the govern
ments of neutral powers its opinion re-
garding the situation.
Won't Discuss Wars Origin.
The Central powers have no reason
to enter into any discussion regard
ing the origin of the war. History
will judge upon whom the immense
guilt of the war shall fall, history's
verdict will as little pass over the en-
circling policy of England, the re-
vengeful policy of France and the
endeavor of Russia to gain Constantine
ople as over the instigation of the Ser
bian assassination in Sarayevo and the
complete mobilization of Russia which
meant war against Germany.
Defending Existence.
Germany and her Allies, who had to
take up arms for defense of their
liberty and their existence, consider
this, their aim of the war, as obtained.
"On the other hand, the hostile pow
ers always went further away from
the realization of their plans which,
according to the declaration of their
responsible statesmen were, among
others, directed toward the conquest
of Alsace Lorraine and several Prus-
sian province, the humiliation and
diminution of the Austro- Hungarian
monarchy, the partition of Turkey and
the mutilation of Bulgaria.
'In the face of such war aims, the |
demand for restitution, reparation and |
guarantees in the mouth of our adver- |
Motives Frankly Explained.
"Our adversaries call the proposal |
of the four Allied (Teutonic) powers
a war maneuver. Germany and her
allies must protest in the most ener-
getic fashion against such charac-
terization of their motives which wert
frankly explained. They were per-
and acceptable to all the belligerents
was possible, that it could be brought
about by an immediate, spoken ex-
change of views, and that, therefore,
the responsibility for further blood
shed could not be taken.
Belgium Is Blamed.
In conclusion the note says:
"The Belgian government declined
the repeated offer of the imperial gov
eminent. Upon her and those powers
which instigated her to this attitude
falls the responsibility for the fate
which befell Belgium.
"The accusations about the German
warfare in Belgium and the measures
taken there in the interest of military
safety have been repeatedly refuted
by the imperial government as untrue.
Germany again offers energetic protest
against these calumnies.
Germany and her allies have made
IN honest attempt to terminate the
war and open the road for an under
standing among the belligerents. The
imperial governments asserts the fact
hat it merely depended upon the de-
,ision of our adversaries whether the
Dad towards peace should be entered
lpon or not. The hostile governments
declined to accept this road. Upon
hem falls the full responsibility for
he continuation Of the bloodshed.
Our allied powers. however, shall
continue the struggle in quiet conf
lence and with firm trust in their
light, until peace is gained which guar
Lntees to their nations honor, exist
nee and liberty Of development and
which to all the nations of the Euro
,ean continent gives the blessing to I
in mutual respect and under, ,
quail rights together for the solution
t the great problems of civilization" {