Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-21
Terms, While Not What AL
lies Consider Sufficient,
Might Serve as Basis For
Parleys; Plebiscite for Al
sace-Lorraine; Much Left
for Discussion.
DELIVER
PURPORTED OFFER

washington, u. g., Dec. 20
What purports to be an outline
of the kaiser's much advertised
"Christmas peace terms" has
reached here through the same
neutral diplomatic channels
which earlier in the week re-
ceived information to support in
timations from abroad that q
new peace offer was coming.
In the main the terms, as de-
scribed, follow the lines Of those
said to have been written by
German Foreign Minister Won
Kuehlmann last summer. At
that time they were denounced
as having been written purely
for political purposes.
! DETAILS OF TERMS.
| The so-called terms, which must. be-
appraised only at their face value aTe
said to include the fQil5Wtrg:
| | 10 leave tts dS posS Qon cE 2sir
+ sasJLorsins tcs bisettS X y
inhabitants. ~ "a
England to pay scefmsny Tor N
her lost Africa colonies and the
money to be used for the reiatali.
tation OF Belgium, servia, Runs
! mia and northern France.
Russian provinces bordering the
(! Baltic, the Black Sea and Prussia
to become independent under
German plan.
| Poland to be called an inde-
pendent state under Austrian su-
zerainity.
Disarmament freedom Of the
| seas and commerce to be left to
| the peace conference.
Rumania, Servia and Montene-
gro to retain their original boun-
daries with the right Of access to
the sea being granted to Serbia.
Turkey TO remain intact.
OBJECT NOT APPARENT.
Whether such proposal of terms
is merely another step in the German
propaganda to impress the public
mind that the allies are responsible
! for continuance Of the war, or whe-
ther 1t is really a feeler for peace, Is
a subject for the estimate Of the gov
eminent concerned.
There is very decided impression
in competent quarters that Germany.
having gained great advantages in
| Russia, might think it to her advan-
tage to yield to allied demand in many
| other directions, which in the esti-
| mate of her own statesmen would
strike a balance This is one OF the
reasons why some closer observers
believe an offer Of peace coming az
!! this time probably has more real In.
/. tertions OF peace behind il than the
/ previous ones
/ MIGHT sE 2ARLEY BASIS.
! From what may be gained Of the
war aims of the allied governments,
as expressed by the statesmen and by
President Wilson. such an offering
| Of terms as outlined in the foregoing
could not be considered as the basis
| Of satisfactory peace. although Il
might contain some OF the elements.
DEMANDS RESTORATION.
| London. Dec e0-Complete restora-
! ton Of the territories taken by the
/. enemy, together with compensation,
was demanded by Premier Lloyd
George in explaining the war aims OF
! the British government to the house
of commons today.
i The prime minister said that the
margin Of losses at sea is narrowing.
The sinkings by submarines. he de
clared is decreasing while shipbuil1-
j ing is increasing.
RUSSIA INJURIES CAUSE.
/ Referring to the military situation.
the premier said it would be idle to
pretend that the hopes formed had
! been realized. The disappointment
he attributed to the Russian collapse.
However. the Germans, the premier
said, have had only one success. which
/, was due to surprise. and this is now
engaging inquiry. He referred to the
withdrawal Of the British near Cam
brai. The Germans. he declared. have
lost 100000 prisoners, valuable posi-
I! tons and hundreds Of guns.
! WAR WOULD BE OVER.
/. The premier said that if the Russian
! army had fulHi!ed the expectations Of
Its generals, by this time the pride OF
the German military power would
i have been completely krmbled.
! On the whole, the British campaign
has not achieved the expectations