River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1917-01-18
SEEMS TO PUT
PEACE FAR OFF
Reply of Entente to President
Wilson by No Means Con-
ciliatory in Tone.
MEAN TO CONTINUE WAR
Terms on Which They Would Agree
to a Cessation Of Hostiiitles Will
Not BE Considered by Ger
many-Berlin Makes
Statement.

Statement.
Washington. is the trans
latiOn 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.
1.-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. 1915. 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 ali
their hopes with the project for the
creation of a league of nations to IN
sure peace and justice throughout the
world.
"They recognize all the advantages
for the cause of humanity and civiliza-
ton which the institution Of interna-
tional agreements destined to avoid
violent conflicts between nations
would prevent, agreements which
must imply the sanctions necessary TO
insure their execution and thus to pre-
vent an apparent security from only
facilitating new aggressiOns.
"But a discussion of future arrange
ments destined to insure an enduring
peace presupposes a satisfactory set
Element of the actual conflict.
"The allies have as profound a de-
sire as the government of the United
States to terminate as soon as posi-
BILE a war for which the central en-
pires are responsible and which in
ficts such cruel sufferings upon hui
manity.
Not Time for Peace.
"But they believe that it is impossi-
bic at the present moment to attain
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; 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 well as to
be1ligerents, and they deplOre them !;
but they do not hold themselves re-
spOnsible for them, having in no way
either willed OfsprovOked this war, and
they strive to reduce these damages
in the measure compatible with the in
exorable exigencies Of their defense
against the violence and the wiles of
the enemy.
Understand u. S. Position.
"It is with satisfaction, therefore,
that they take note of the dec
laration that the American cOmmu-
nication is in nOwise associated with
that of the central powers transmitted
on the 18th Of December by the gov
Of
lid not doubt, moreover, the resolu-
lion of that government to avoid even
ehe appearance Of a support, even
moral, of the authors responsible for
the war
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 luISuItOA VI dSSOCldJ1uR nILQSClI
with it.
eff there is a 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 all 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 Enemys Atrocities.
SIS it necessary to recall the horrors
which accompanied the invasion of
Belgium and of Serbia, the atrocious