Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-12

| OF the entente note as cabled by AM
bassador Sharp at Paris, follows:
Tie allied governments have re-
I celNed the note which was delivered
to them in the name of the govern
ment of the United States on the 18th
of December, 1916. They have studied
1 1t with care imposed upon them, both
| by the exact realization which they
| Lave of the gravity OF the hour anu
/ by the sincere friendship which at
taches them to the American people.
| In general way, they desire to
! declare their respect for the lofty
sentiments inspiring the American
| note and their whole-hearted agree
! ment with the proposal to create a
| league of nations, which sLall assure
peace and justice throughout the
world.
They recognize all the advantages
for the cause of humanity and civili-
cation which the institution of inter-
national agreements, destined to avoid
violent conflicts between nations,
would prevent - agreements which
must imply the sanctions necessary to
insure their execution, and thus to
/ prevent an apparent security from
only facilitating new aggressions.
! But discussion of future arrange
ments for assuring a durable peace
, presupposes a satisfactory settlement
! OF the present conflict; tie allies have
as profound a desire as the govern
ment of the United States TO termi-
nate as soon as possible war for
which the central empires are re-
sponsible and which inmcts sucn cruel
sunerlngs upon humanity.
| But, in their judgment, it is i'm
possible to obtain at this moment
sucn peace as will not only secure
to them the reparatlon, the restitution
| ana the guarantees justly due them,
| by reason of tie act OIL aggression,
the guilt OF which Is fixed upon the
central powers, while the very prln-
clple from which 1t sprang was un-
dermtnlng the safety Oh Europe, and,
at the same time, such peace as Will
enable future European nations to be
| established upon a sure foundation.
The allied naaons are conscious that
they are not ngnung for seInSn inter
| eStS, but, above all, to safeguard the
! independence Of peoples, OF right and
OF humanity.
Protest ono Point in Wilson's Note
The allies are fully aware OF the
| losses and suffering Mhlcn the war
causes to neutrals, as well as to bell-
gerenIs, and they uepiore them; but
tney do not hold themselves respon-
sible for them, having in no way
either willed or PROVOKED tins war.
And they strive to reduce these dam
ages IN The measure compatible with
! bAAS AASAOLoDiG GAiS Ol lH6lE uS-
tense against the violence and the
wlles OF the enemy.
1T is with satisfaction, therefore,
that they take note OF the declaration
tnat the American communication is
in no wise associated in its origin with
that of the central powers, transmitted
on the 18th OF December by the gov
ernment OF the United States. Iney
did not doubt, moreover, the resoIu-
ton oil that government 70 avoid even
The appearance ol support, even
moral, OF the authors responsible 1or
the war.
The allied governments feel it
their duty to challenge In the most
friendly, but also in the clearest, way
the analogy drawn between the two
groups of Dethgerents. TINS analogy,
based on public declarations OF the
central powers, is in direct conflict
with the evidence, both as regards
responsibility for the past and guaran-
tees TOR the future. President Wilson,
in alluding to this analogy, did not,
of course, intend to adopt 1T as his
own.
IF there is an historical fact estab-
lished at the present date, it is the
willful aggression of Germany and
Austria-Hungary to insure their hege-
mony over Europe and their economic
domination over the world. Germany
proved by her declaration of war, by
the instant violation of Belgium and
Luxembourg and by her methods of
warfare, Germany has proved that she
Systematically scorns every principle
of humanity and all respect due to
small states. More and more, as the
struggle has progressed, has the at
titude of the central powers and their
allies been a constant challenge to
humanity and civilization.
lis 1T necessary to recall the horrors
which accompanied the invasion of
Belgium and of Servia, the atrocious
regime imposed upon the invaded
countries, the massacre of hundreds of
thousands of inoffensive Armenians,
the barbarities perpetrated against
the population of Syria, the raids of
Zeppelins on open towns, the destruc-
ton by submarine of passenger steam
ers and of merchantmen even under
neutral flags. the cruel treatment in
tlicted upon prisoners of war, the
! juridical murders of Miss Cavel, of
Captain Fryatt, the deportation and
the reduction to slavery of civil popu-
/ lations, ct cetera? The execution of
such a series of crimes, perpetrated
without any regard for universal re-
probation. fully explains to President
| Wilson the protest of the allies.
They consider that the note which
they sent to the United States in reply
! to the German note will be a response
to the questions put by the American
government, and. according to the
esact words of the latter. constitutes
a public declaration as to the condi-
! tions upon which the. war could be
! terminated.
Allies Lay Down Their Terms
| president Wilson desires more. He
desires that the belligerent powers
openly affirm the objects which they
seek by continuing the war; the allies
experience no difficulty in replying to
this request. Their objects in the
war are well known; they have been
formulated on many occasions by the
chiefs of their divers governments.
Their objects I'm the war will not be
made known in detail. with all the
equitable compensations and in
IDENTITIES for damages suffered, until
! the hour of negotiations.
But tho civilized world knows that
! they imply. in all necessity. and I'm