Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-04
allies FORCED
TO Make REPLY
ON PEACE PACT
United States, France and
Italy Exchange Views
on Pending Treaty.
PERIL OF SEPARATE
PEACE POINTED OUT

PEACE POINTED OUT
London. Jan. 1.-The British gov,
eminent recognizes that the Brest
Litovsk peace proposals constitute a
grave and new fact of which official
cognizance must be taken, says the
Daily Chronicle in reporting, as did
the Manchester Guardian yesterday
that the British government intends to
return serious and reasonable reply
to the Austro-German peace terms
when presented officially. The Chron-
icle adds that the United States, Great
Britain, France and Italy already are
: exchanging views concerning the
peace proposals.
President Wilson, it is taken for
granted, will be the spokesman for the
allies as he has been on occasions in
the past, and his reply to the Russo
German peace proposals will bare the
tricks which the kaiser is attempting
: to play upon the whole world with
the connivance and active assistance
of Lenine and Trotzky.
CONFERENCES PREcEDE REPLY.
Washington, D. c., Jan. Conf
Dental exchange of views between the
governments allied in the war against
Germany have been in progress, 1t is
understood, since Count Czernin's
peace balloon rose from the peace con-
ference at Brest-Litovsk several days
ago.
This lends significance to the an
nouncement from London that Pre-
nier Lloyd George will shortly go to
Paris for conference with Premier
Clemenceau.
TO OFFSET PROPAGANDA.
The insidious efforts of the Germans
to involve this country and the entente
allies in the peace negotiations pro-
ceeding with the bolsheviki have de-
veloped to such a stage that In the
opinion of some officials here notice
of the propaganda must be taken and
IN attempt made to neutralize it.
The fact that the proposals will be
given serious consideration here and
in allied capitals does not mean that
they will be accepted. 1t does mean
that reply will be sent either to the
bolsheviki government at Petrograd,
which presumably is to transmit it,
or to Vienna. via neutral diplomatic
channels, If the offer is sent forward
formally by the Austro-Hungarian
government
NO CHANCE OF ACCEPTANCE.
So long as American and allied off,
Gals are convinced that any peace pro-
posal is of the made-in-Berlin variety,
designed to prove most beneficial to
the central powers-an attempt by
Germany to dictate peace-there is
not the slightest ground for believing
a reply favorable to the kaiser will
be sent jointly or separately by the
allies and the United States.
The country that tossed its pledge
to protect the neutrality of Belgium
into the discard would not seek far
for a pretext to violate any other
treaty if it thought it saw an equally
good opportunity for stab in the
back.
HERE ARE THE TERMS.
The committee on public informa-
ton has made public radio message
originating at Nauen, the seat of the
high-power wireless station in Ger
many, setting forth the ostensible
terms Of peace. Here they are:
mo forcible union of districts which
have come into possession during the
war is allowed Troops which are
occupying these districts will be with
drawn in shortest time.
Political independence of peoples
which have lost their independence in
this war will be in fullest extent re-
stored
Possibility shall be granted to ma
Gonal troops which before the war
were not politically Independent to de-
eide the question of submitting them
selves to one or other states or to de-
termine their political independence
by referendum.
RIGHTS OF MINORITY.
in reference to districts of mixed
nationality the right of the minority
shall be protected by special law,
which gives to it independence for its
national culture, and, when this can
be carried through. practically an
autonomous administration
LAS to what concerns replacement
of losses of private persons in conse-
quence of the war, they shall be met
from an especial fund to which bellig-
erents shall contribute proportionally
Colonial questions shall be decided
by the observation of fundamental
principles
FRANCE TURNS DEAF EAR.
Paris, Jan. Premier Clemenceau
has refused passports to a delegation