Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-29
LONDON OPINION
On Central Pow s.
Peace Reply Follows
Two Distinct Lines

..a reply Of the Central Powers to the
,,lshe,iki peace terms as far as can
- Judged from the editorial articles
.c the morning newspapers, follows two
.,es on one hand it seems TO be felt
rat the central Powers have made
perfectly sincere Offer TO end the war
,nmediately. while on the other hand,
MI declared that they have set a cum
-,na trap for the allies.
III former view is not confined to
napers generally regarded as having
pacihst leanings. II is supported.
,%,ronglv, for instance. by the conserv-
.,i,e Daily Express. which Is an ar
den. apostle OF anti-Prussianism.
u SAYS The terms may be taken as
/, imlnNs first hid. The proposals are.
Z course. wholly inadequate. but il is
lrulh ant that the idea of conuues.
as been abandoned completely. This
g. ~. first indication that Germany has
'eeun 20 realize the true position with
~. % she IL confronted
Tn. t.NpresS continued
A. the same time the demand of
me allies for reparation is ignored to-
ally
germany is pledged definitely TO the
800 AA hh.I 80 y lDn1- 3
IS tepudiating Won Tirpitz and the 9TH
or p3r';"rmans. but while restitution
e accepted. repAration is secuted Re-
para'.ou VIII be accepted as the prico
n Tho restoration OF those economic re-
,a,ions without which Germany cannot
IRE
An authoritative allied reply to
,our' Czernin might he a dcmonstra
I'm ia tho German n1nnl, +I,, A. i
lies have no wish 10 contrive their de-
,'rlction. hinder their development ~
threaten their independence"
The Daily Chronicle says it is n strik-
'ng fact that the Contra Powers have
accepted the formula of no annexations
md no indemnities and continues:
The new peace offensive Of the Con-
raj Powers is meant. not primarily for
Russia but for the allies at large, and
specially the United States. 1t is no
doubt merely the forerunner OF propos-
as NOR" formal in character"
m" Daily News which warmly on
d'rscd the recent letter of the MARQUIS
~ fansdowne and is regarded as being
'lnged with pacifsm. believes that Ger
many had TO choose between her eX-
'rtmlsts and her moderates. as no
peace formula could possibly satisfy
both Count I~teventlow and Phillip
Scheidemann.
"Nothing could be more ill-advised,"
y Gays. thai a general denunciation
- tho German offer, as such a recep-
ION Is precisely what Germany is play
.ng for"
After ~denouncing the terms as they
would AFFECT Belgium and other mat
tors as being altogether unacceptable,
the Daily News adds: These deficicn-
ZIG might seem for a moment to fur
nish sufficient ground for ignoring OF
slimmarily dismissinE the German pro-
pcFal. Reasons regarding that conclu-
sion arc short-sighted and impolitic.
If the allies are appealed to by the
Russians for their views. they should
seize without hesitation the opportu-
nifty of making n candid and reason
'd statement Of their war aims and
their peace terms"
\ highly interesting situation. the
Daily Telegraph thinks. has been ere
a'ed by the reply of the Central Pow
srs but N does not see In il the pros
rect Of any secure settlement of the
worlds peace.
With what ook like an abrupt
hHOge OF mind n SAYS, "Gcrmany
has thrown over her annexationists
and pronounced for a status quo ante.
y this ia SO, II means n definite aban-
Comment Of ambitions In Belgium and
ne western provinces Of Russia.
The non powers. however. reject
~" absolute fundamental point of the
Ugh oc subject n~ationalities to Salf-
Termination The allies are required
=" give undertakings which would
thrust back tho liberated peoples of
Palestine and Mesopotamia under the
INrkish yoke. would insure Alsace-
lorraine remaining German. and unre-
deemed Italy remaining Austrian.
such an outcome" the Telegram
adds would be a virtual victory and
a new lease of life for militarism."
The Times and the Daily Mail are
opponents OF the view that the pro-
posals constitute a trap for the Allies,
and II accepted. would leave the Cen
trail Powers victors. The Times says
that Count Czernin's statement fully
hears out President Wilson's judgment
Of last summer that tho purpose of
tho German peace intrigue is the de-
cett OF nations.
The real object of the answer is
transparent" IL adds. Germany and
her satellites hope that the Russian
commissioners will ratify the action Of
their delegates and intend to make use
OF this to strengthen the defeatists in
NE Allied countries and. as Dernburg
'old us. to break the home front OF
Germany's enemies.
In every instance where a conces-
sion 20 "A Democratic principle appar-
"ntly Is made, II IS nullifed Immediate
~ by some craftily drawn qualification
or reserve"
Il is Germany's manifest policy. ac-
cording to the Times, to secure while
there is yet time. a peace which will
preserve under her control her vassals
IN central and southern Europe. en-
aoling her TO boast truly that mill
tartm has indicated s~plendidly its
claims.
Even the blindest MOLE declares
'he Mail. could see through the
smoke screen OF verbal evasions with
which the Germans try TO conceal their
real Intentions. Seeming compliance
with the Russian suggestion coupled
HA