The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-12-28

| that Germany had to choose between
her extremists and her moderates. as no
peace formula could be possibly salts
factory to both Count Reventlow and
Phillip Scheidemann socialist leader
Nothing could be more ill.advised
than "a general denunciation of the Ger.
man offer by the press or politics OF
| the entente alliance, as such a recep-
| tion is precisely what German diplo.
macy Is playing for. That doer not
mean that the German proposals can
be grasped at as "A basis of immediate
negotiations--their defects are self-evi-
dent"
Would Not Dismiss Proposals.
After denouncing the terms as they
would affect Belgium and other mat
'Nrs as being altogether unacceptable
l.. Daily News adds:
'Ns deficiencies might seem for
IA. - furnish sufficient ground
for Or summarily dismissing
the Gel proposals, but reasons re-
gardng IT, conclusion are impolitic.
IF the allies are appealed to by the
Russians for their views they should
Seize without hesitation the opportunity
of making candid statement of their
war aims and their peace terms.
'On certain important questions such
as the reputation of territorial ambi-
tions and punitive indemnities. there is.
in form at least. a common ground be-
tween the German professions and the
declared principles of the allies. and
il should be borne i'm mind that when a
peace term is framed under circum-
stances as those which brought the pres
ent German proposals to birth. its de-
mand may he assumed to represent. not
an irreducible minimum. but a skillfui
negotiator's stock in trade
highly interesting situation. The
Daily Telegraph thinks, has been Gre
ated by the reply OF the central powers
but II does not see i'm ii the prospect
of ang secure settlement for world
peace.
with what looks like an abrupt
change of mind" it says. Germany has
thrown over her annexationists and pro-
nounced for a status quo ante peace
If this Is so, it means a definite aban-
donment of ambitions in Belgium and
the western provinces of RUSSIA.
Hun Rejects Right of Nations.
The enemy powers however, reject |
the absolutely fundamental point or !
the right of subject nationalities to |
which is vital to the cause |
Tor which the allies are fighting.
Ihe allies are required 70 give un-
which would thrust back the |
iberated peoples of Palestine and Meso-
)otamia under the Turkish yoke. would |
insure Alsace-Lorraine's remaining Ger
nan, and unredeemed Italy's remaining
Austrian, and would exclude an at.
empt to place the whole question OF
nationalities of southeastern
europe upon a basis of international
guaranteed freedom"
such an outcome. the Daily Telegraph
grees would be a virtual victory ana
new lease of life for militarism.
The Times and Daily Mail are ex.
'onents of the view that the Germanic
proposals. constitute trap for the al
les, and If accepted would leave the
entral powers victors. The Times says
hat Count Czernin's statement fully
ears out President Wilson's judgment
I last summer that the purpose of the
ierman peace intrigue is the deceit of
ations.
In every instance" the Times adds.
where "a concession to a democratic
rlnciple apparently is made. it is null
ued Immediately by some craftily
rawn qualification or reserve"