The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1917-01-17
Note Received at Washington
Shows Very Little Desire for
Peace Now.
WILL NOT MAKE STATEMENT
Refuse to State Their Objects in the
War Until the Hour of Neuo-
tiations-Belgum Also Sends
Note Statement
From Berlin.

1atIOn OF the entente allies reply to
President Wilson's peace note, trans
mitted to the state department by AM
bassador William G. Sharp in Paris:
Ambassador Sharp to the Secretary
of State. American Embassy, Paris,
Jan. 10, 1917.
THE allied governments have re-
ceived the note which was delivered
to them in the name of the govern
ment Of the United States on the 10Th
of December, 1916. They have studied
it with the care imposed upon them
both by the exact realization which
they have of the gravity of the hour
and by the sincere friendship which
attaches them to the American people.
In a general way they wish to de-
clare that they pay tribute to the ele
walton of the sentiment with which the
American note is inspired and that
they associate themselves with all
their hopes with the project for the
creation of a league of nations to in
sure peace and justice throughout the
world.
"The allies have as profound Il de-
sire as the government of the United
States to terminate as soon as posi-
BILE q war for which the central en-
pires are responsible and which in
fiicts such cruel sufferings upon hui
mainly.
Not Time for Peace
But they believe that it is impossi
BILE at the present moment to attain q
peace which will assure them repara-
ton, restitution, and such guarantees
to which they are entitled by the ag-
gresSiOn for which the responsibility
rests with the central powers and of
which the principle itself tended to
ruin the security Of Europe; a peace
which would. on the other hand, per-
NIT the establishment of the future of
European nations on solid basis.
1.-THE allied nations are conscious
that they are not fighting for selfish
interests, but above all to safeguard
the independence Of peoples, or right,
and of humanity.
"The allies are fully aware Of the
losses and suffering which the war has
caused to neutrals as we'll as to
belligerents, and they deplore them !;
but they do not hold themselves re-
SponSible for them, having in no way
either willed or provoked this war, and
they strive to reduce these damages
in the measure compatible with the in
exorable sexigencies of their defense
against the violence and the wileS of
the enemy.
1.-THE allied governments believe that
they must protest in the most friendly
but in the most specific manner against
the assimilation established in the
American note between the two groups
of belligerents; this assimilation, based
upon public declarations by the cen
trail powers, is in direct opposition to
the evidence both as regards response
bility for the past and as concerns
guarantees for the future; President
Wilson in mentioning it certainly had
no intention of associating himself
with it.
'If there is historical fact estab-
lished at the present date, it is the will
full aggression of Germany and Aus
tria-Hungary to insure their hegemony
over Europe and their economic domi-
nation over the world.
Germany proved by her declaration
Of war, by the immediate violation of
Belgium and Luxembourg, and by her
manner of conducting the war, her sys-
tematic contempt for all principles of
humanity and ell respect for small
states; as the conflict developed the
attitude of the central powers and
their allies has been a continual def
ance of humanity and civilization.
Cites Enemy's Atrocities.
SIS it necessary to recall the horrors
which accompanied the invasion of
Belgium and of Serbia, the atrocious
regime imposed upon the invaded
countries, the massacre of hundreds of
thousands of inoffensive Armenians.
the barbaritfes perpetrated against the
populations Of Syria, the raids of
Zeppelins on open towns, the destruc-
ton by submarines of passenger
steamers and of merchantmen even I'M
der neutral flags, the cruel treatment
inflicted upon prisoners of war, the iu-
ridical murders of Miss Cavell, of Cap
tain Fryatt, the deportation and reduc-
ton to slavery of civil populations,
ETC.?
1.-THE execution Of such series of