Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-12-28
ALLIES REJECT TEUT0N PEACE OFFER

pacidlst leanings. 1t Is supported
strongly, for Instance by the con :
servative Daily Express. which stands
uncompromisingl for victory. In. all
the papers taking this view the state
ment OF the central powers Is regarded
as being addressed less to Russia than
to the allies collectively, and the oner
made thru Count Czernin Is assumed
to be an initial proposal which tho
central powers probably are prepared
to modify in the course Of bargaining.
Conquest Idea Abandoned.
"The Express says: 'FThe terms may
be taken as Germany's first bid. The
proposals are, Of course wholly made
quate, but it is significant that the
idea Of conquest has been abandoned d
completely. This is the first indica-
ton that Germany has begun to realize
the true position with which she Is con-
fronted.
':At the same time the demand Of the
allies for reparation u ignored totally.
It is general peace that Germany and
Austria Hungary want, and behind
perfectly sincere desire to end the war
at once. The offer, for what it Is
worth, is obviously genuine.
Rsparation 10 Secuted.
Germany Is pledged definitely to the
principle Of restitution, thereby re-
pudiating Won Tirpitz and the other
pan Germans, but while restitution Is
accepted reparation is secuted. Rep
aration will be accepted as the price
Of the restoration Of those economic
relations without which Germany can
not live.
IAN authoritative allied reply to
Count Czernin might be a demonstra-
ton to the German people that the
allies have no wish to contrive their
destruction, hinder their development.
or threaten their independence. When
they once understand what the allies
stand for and what really are their in
tentions. the German people them
selves will complete the destruction Of
that militarism which has set out to
conquer the world"
See Offer as Forerunner.
The Daily Chronicle says 1t is a
striking fact that the central powers
have accepted the formula Of no an
nexations and no indemnities, and con-
tinues:
"The new peace offensive OF the CEN
trail powers is meant not primarily for
Russia but the allies at large and es-
pecially the United States Coming
at the same time Of threatened warn
ings Of tremendous German efforts on
the western front it is no doubt merely
forerunner Of proposals more formal
in character. The terms OF the central
powers offer no securities whatever
against recurrence of the war when
ever the original disturbers of the
peace are strong enough to fight again
with better prospect OF victory
A Paeif7st- View.
The Daily News. which warmly in
dorsed the recent letter Of the Marquis
of Lansdowne. and Is regarded as be-
ing tinged with paclfism, contends
that Germany has to: choose between
her extremists and her moderates, as
no peace formula could possibly sat
isfy both Count Reventlow and Philip
Sche1demann.
Nothing could be more Ill advised
1t says, "than a general denunciation
Of the German offer by the press of
politicians Of the entente. as such a. re-
ception Is precisely what German
diplomacy Is playing for That does
not mean that the German proposals
con be grasped at as a basis of inn
mediate negotiations-theird defects are
self evident"