The Benson signal., 1917-01-06

these terms would be only to the ad-
vantage to the aggressors who, after
imagining that they would reach their
goal in two months, discovered after
two years that they could never at
tain it.
GAS for the future, the disasters
caused by the German declaration Of
war and the innumerable outrages
committed by Germany and her allies
against both belligerents and neutrals,
demand penalties, reparation and
guarantees. Germany avoids mention
of any of these.
To Influence Course of War.
"In reality these overtures made by
the central powers are nothing more
than a calculated attempt to influence
the future course of war and to end it
by imposing a German peace. The oh
ject of these overtures is to create
disssension in public opinion in the
allied countries. But that public opin>
ion has, in spite of all the sacrifices
endured by the allies, already given its
answer with admirable firmness and
has denounced the empty pretense of
the declaration of the enemy powers.
"They have the further object OF
stiffening public opinion in Germany
and in the countries allied to her; one
and all severely tried by their losses,
worn out by economic pressure, anI
crushed by the supreme effort which
has been imposed upon their inhabi-
tants.
"They endeavor to deceive and in
timidate public opinion in neutral
countries, whose inhabitants have long
since made up their mind where the
initial responsibilities lie and are far
too enlightened to favor the designs
of Germany by abandoning the defense
of human freedom.
Finally, these overtures attempt to
justify in advance in the eyes of the
world a series of crimes, submarine
warfare, deportations, forced labor and
forced enlistment of the inhabitants
against their own country and viola
tiOns of neutrality.
Fully conscious of the gravity of
this moment, but equally conscious OF
it's requirements, the allied govern
ments, closely united to one another
and in perfect sympathy with their
peoples, refuse to consider a proposal
which is empty and insincere.
"Once again the allies declare that
no peace is possible so long as they
have not secured reparation for violat-
ed rights and liberties, the recognition
of the principle of nationalities and OF
the free existence of small states; so
long as they have not brought about
settlement calculated to end at once
and for all forces which have cons:i-
tuted a perpetual menace to the ma
tions and to afford the only effective
guarantee for the future security of
the world
Must Have Reparation.
"In conclusion the allied powers
think it necessary to put forward the
following considerations, which show
the special situation of Belgium after
two and half years of war:
"In virtue of the international treat
les signed by five great European
powers, of whom Germany was one,
Belgium enjoyed before the war q
special status, rendering her territory
inviolable and placing her, under the
guarantee of the powers, outside all
European conflicts She was, however,
in spite of these treaties, the first to
suffer the aggression of Germany. For
this reason the Belgian government
thinks it necessary to define the aims
which Belgium has never ceased to
pursue while fighting side by side
with the entente powers for right and
justice
Belgium has always scrupulously
fulfilled the duties which her neutral
ity imposed upon her. She has taken
up arms to defend her independence
and her neutrality violated by Ger
many and to show that she remains
faithful to her internationa! obliga-
tions."