Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1917-01-04
PROTECT AGAINST ENEMY's AS.
SERTioN ATTEMPTING TO
THROW ON ENTENTE RE-
sPoNslBiLITY FOR WAR.
DECLARE PROPOSITION IS
LIKE MANEUvER or WAR
0ffIciaI Text Asserts Proposal Was
Made In Order to Seek to intimi.
date Neutrality-suspicious. Peace
10 impossible Until Re-
paration 70 Made.


posAl has been refused by the Allies.
In a collective note branding thu
proffer OF tho Central Powers an empty
and fnsincere. the Allied governments
Insist that no peace In possible no long
~ they have not secured reparation for
violated rights and liberties. They
rsiterate the objects they are fighting
states and maintain that any settle
ment must provide for the future se-
curity OF the entire world.
The proposal OF the Central Powers
II termed not an offer OF peace but a
"manoenvre of war" Ii In declared to
be founded on calculated misrepresen-
tation OF the character OF the struggle
In the past. the present and the fu-
ture. -
OUTLINES neIgiun's War Aims.
The note does not specifically outline
the war aims OF any OF the Allied gov
ernments except Belgium. Before the
war. Il In pointed out. Belgium asked
for nothing but to live In harmony
with her nelghbors Assailed In spite
Of the treaties guaranteeing her in
volatility. Belgium. the note, has TAX
IN up arms to defend her independence
and her neutrality violated by DER
many"
Nste Delivered 70 sharpe.
The note was handed to u. s. Ambas-
sador sharpe by Premier BRAND In
Paris to be transmitted by the Unit
ID States to the Central Powers.
The note says: The Allied govern
ain. Italy. Japan, Montenegro. Portu-
GAL Roumania, Russia and Serbia, unit
ed for the defense OF tho liberty OF
their peoples and faithful to engage
mants taken not 10 lay down their
arms separately have resolved TO reply
collectively to pretended propositions
OF peace which were addressed to them
on behalf OF enemy governments
through the intermediary OF the Unit
cd States. Spain. Switzerland and Hol-
land.
wished 10 Avoid War. ..-..
"Hefore making any reply to the AL
lied Powers desire particularly to pro-
test against the two essential asser-
tionH OF the note OF the enemy powers
that pretend TO throw upon the Allies
responsibility for the war and pro-
claim the victory of the Central Pow
ers.
The Allied governments cannot add
init an affirmation doubiy inexact and
which Hutiices to render sterile all ten
tative negotiations.
"rhe Allied nations have sustained
for thirty months a war they did every
thing to avoid. They have shown by
their acts their attachment to peace.
That attachment In an strong today as
II was In 1sia. But Il In not upon the
word OF Germany, after the violation
Of her engagements. that the peace
broken by her may be based.
Not m OMer Of Peace
"A mere suggestion. without a state
ment OF terms. that negotiations
should be opened. IL not an offer OF
peace. The putting forward by the
Imperial Government OF sham propo-
sal lacking all substance and precision
would appear to be less an ofrer or
peace than n maneuver OF war. II Ia
founded on calculated mtainterpreta-
ton Of the character of the struggle
In the past. the present and tho flu
turo.
As for the past. the German note
takes no account OF the facts. dates
and ngures which establish that the
war was desired. provoked and de-
clared BY Germany and Austria Hun
gary.
Refused Disarmament PLAN.
AT the Hague conference II was a
herman delegate who refused all pro-
posais for disarmament. In July. 1914,
u was Austro- Hungary. who. after hav-
Ing addressed to Serbia an unprece~
daated ultimatum declared war upon
her In spite OF the satisfaction which
had at once been accorded.
Inc Sehsrai empires then rejected
all attempts made by the entente TO
bring about pacific solution OF a
purely local conflict.
1e3a9--W N It-~SlS Hannfnr
Great Britain suggested a confer
once; France proposed AN International
commission. the Emperor OF Russia
asked the German emperor co go to
arbitration and Russia and Austria
Hungary came to an understanding on
the eve OF the conflict. hut to all these
efforts Germany gave neither answer
nor acknowledgment.
Nclxtuna Invaded by Emulre.
Belgium was invaded hy an empire
which had guaranteed her neutrality
and which had the assurances to pro-
claim that treaties were scraps OF M !
per and that necessity knows no laws
Al the present moment these sham
offers on the part Of Germany rest an
Me war map Of Europe alone, which
represents nothing more than a suner-
hcial and passing phase Of the situa-
tton and not the real strength OF the
0elligerents.
"A peace concluded upon these terms
~Ae.~~~~~.~~~.~~~~-~ ~~N~~>~~e~~