Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-01

tentiOnS, the German people them
selves will complete the destruction of
that Elilitarism which has set out to
conquer the world"
The Daily Chronicle says it is a
striking fact that the central powers
have accepted the formula Of no an.
nexations and no indemnities, and con-
tinues:
THE new peace offensive of the
central powers is meant not primarily
for Russia, but for the allies at large
and especially the United States. Com
ing at the same time as threats and
warnings of tremendous German eff.
forts on the western 'front.' it Is no
doubt merely the forerunner OF pro-
posals more formal in character. The
terms of the central powers offer no
security whatever against recur.
renee of the war, whenever the orig
inal disturbers of the peace are strong
enough to fight again with better
prospect Of victory"
DEFECTS ARE EVIDENT.
The Daily News, which recently
warmly endorsed the letter of the
Marquis of Lansdowne and is regard
ed as being, tinged with pacifism, con-
tends that Germany had to choose be-
tween her extremists and her moder-
ates, as no peace formula could posi-
bly, satisfy both Count .Reventlow and
Phillip Scheidemann.
Nothing could be more ill-advised."
it says, than a general denunciation
Of the German offer by the press or
politicians of the entente, as such re-
ception is precisely what German
diplomacy is playing for. That does
not mean that the German proposals
can be grasped at as a basis of imme'
date negotiations-their defects are
selfevident."
NO SECURITY OFFERED.
After denouncing the terms as they
would affect Belgium and other mat
tiers as being altogether unacceptable.
the Daily News adds:
"If the allies are appealed to by the
Russians for their views they should
seize without hesitation the opportun-
ity of making a candid and reasonable
statement of their war aims and their
peace terms"
A highly interesting situation, the
Daily Telegraph thinks, has been Gre
ated by the reply of the central pow
ers, but it does not see in 1t the pros
pect Of any secure settlement of the
worlds peace.
with what looks like an abrupt
change of mind" it says, Germany
has thrown over her annexationists
and pronounced for a status quo ante
peace"
NoRThcLlFFE SCENTS TRICK.
The enemy powers, however, reject
the absolutely fundamental point OF
the right of separate nationalities to
selfdefinition, which is vital to the
cause for which the allies are fighting.
This scheme, the Telegraph adds,
would be a virtual victory and new
lease of life for militarism
The Times and the Daily Mail are
of the view that the prOpos-
ais constitute trap for the allies, and
If accepted would leave the central
powers victors. The Times says that
Count CZernin's statement fully bears
out President Wilson's judgment OF
last summer that the purpose of the
German peace intrigue is the deceit @!
nations.
The real object of the answer is
it adds. Germany and
her satellites hope that the Russian
will ratify the action OF
their delegates, and intend to make
use of this to strengthen the defeatists
in the allied countries. and. as Dern-
berg told us, to break the home front
Of Germany's enemies. The bolshev-
Xxi are to be the bait with which to
tempt believers and half believers in
peace by agreement into the Berlin
trap.
RALLIES WANT VICTORY"
''In every instance where a conces-
sion to q democratic principle appar-,