The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-28
All Agreed That the Terms
Are insufficient In
Present Form
BUT SOME SEE MORE
HUMBLE GERMANY
Idea of Conquest Abandon
ed Although Reparation
Is Not Yet Talked

London, Dec. 2s.--opinion here on
the reply of the central powers to
the BOlsheviki peace terms, as far
as can be judged from the editorials
in the morning newspapers, fol-
lows two main lines.
On one hand it seems to be felt
that the central powers have made
q perfectly sincere offer to end the
war Immediately, while on the other
hand it is declared that they have
set q cunning trap in which they
hope, although vainly, to catch the
allies.
The former view is not confined
TO papers generally regarded as hav-
ing pacifist leanings. 1t is supported
strongly, for instance by the con-
servative Daily Express, which
stands uncompromising for victory
over the central powers and is an
ardent apostle OF anti-Prussianism
In. all the papers taking this view
the statement Of the central powers
Is regarded as being addressed less
to Russia than to the allies coilec-.
lively, and the offer made through
Count Czernin Is assumed to be an
initial proposal which the central
powers probably are prepared to
1nOdify in the course OF bargaining.
The Express says:
The terms may be taken as Ger
maHy's first bid. The proposals are.
OF course, wholly inadequate. but IL
is significant that the idea of con-
quest has been abandoned complete
". This is the first indication 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 is ignored
totally =. There is no doubt
that the negotiations are a form OF
camoufiage by which Germany is at
tempting to talk to the allies through
Russia It is a general peace that
Germany and Austria Hungary want
and behind Czernin's words there is,
we think, perfectly sincere desire
to end the war at once"
The Daily Chronicle says it is a
striking fact that the central pow
ers have accepted the formula OF no
annexations and no indemnities, and
continues:
No Security For Future.
THE new peace offensive OF the
central powers is meant, not
primarily for Russia, but for the
allies at large and especially the
United States. 1t Is no doubt mere
ly the foreFunner Of proposals more
formal in character .. The terms
Of the central powers offer no securi-
ty whatever against recurrence of
the war, whenever the original dis
turbers Of the peace are strong en-
sougk to fight again with a better
prospect of victory"
The Daily News, which warmly
endorsed the recent letter OF the
Marquis of Lansdowne and is re-
gafded as being tinged with pacfflsfn.
contends that Germany had to choose
between her extremists and her
moderates, as no peace formula coald
possibly satisfy both Count Revent-
low and Phillip Scheidemann.
Nothing could be more iii advis-
ed It says, than general
denunciation OF the German offer by
the press or politicians OF the
entente alliance as such reception
is precisely what German diplomacy
is playing for. That does not mean
that the German proposals can be
grasped at as a basis of immediate
negotiations-their defects are self
evident"
After denouncing the terms as
they would affect Belgium and other
matters as being altogether unac-
ceptable, The Daily News adds:
These deficiencies might seem for
moment to furnish sufficient
ground for ignoring or summarily
disrnissing the German proposals.
Reasons regarding that conclusion
are short sighted and in1politic as
already has been suggested.
IF the allies are appealed to by
the Russians for their views they
should seize without hesitation the
opportunity Of making a candid and
reasoned statement Of their war aims
and their peace terms
A statement pufporting to give In
broad outline the view taken In high
British political circles Of the Ger
man peace terms is printed by The
Daily Express. IL says that two
things are known here, first, that
Germany does not want separate
peace with Russia but a general
peace, and, second. that Germany
fears BoiaheviAd influence, being
afraid Of it's effect on the German
working classes.
"A stiff upper lip is the attitude
in ountry at present" the state
me lares. The peace terms
ar sufficient 20 lead us to lay
do1 ar arms. We must Be watch
fu1. 1t Is an to Germany to show