GERMAN REPLY TO AMERICAN PEACE NOTE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2963, 29 December 1916, Page 5

GERMAN REPLY TO AMERICAN PEACE NOTE

MOST UNSATISFACTORY , , A DELIBERATE REBUFF TO PRESIDENT WILSON x (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright). , : . . , ! _London, December 27. American opinion .regarding the German reply is that it is a deliberate rebuff to President Wikon unless he received confidential information. Mean-' while'the Press expresses surprise at the Allies and the British Empire's rejection of Mr. Wilson's offer, and apologetically explain the Note's unfortunate phrasing as an academic effort to make the Note' completely colourThe New York "Times" asserts that the Note -was really addressed to Germany in order to compel a disclosure, as to why she broke the peace, because a continuance of the war threatens to draw in America.—"The Times." New ,York| December 27. The 'Washiiigton correspondent of the New York "Times" says: "Germany's reply is most disappointing. Officials regard it as most unsatisfactory and evasive. Greater frankness was, expected." , The Washington'correspondent of the "Sun" says: "The reply shooks the Administration. President .Wilson is chagrined and disappointed."—Aus.N.Z. Cablo Assn. " . GERMANY'S ANSWER COMPLETELY EVADES THE ISSUE New York, December 27. The New York "Times" says: "The British blockade is doing its work. Peace Germany must have, and soon. That is the obvious meaning of her surprisingly prompt/reply. If the need! for peace is as dire as it seems, Germany will presently make a'different proposal. _ On aiiy other theory, her answer, might be regarded as insincere, for certainly the United States is responsive to Mr. Wilson." The New York "World" says: "Germany's answer completely evades the issue,.and in the light of ber reply it is impossible to believe there washonesty and! sincerity of purpose at the back of the original peace proposals."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable A6sn. . OUTSPOKEN CRITICISM OF AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS . I ' ' ■ (Rec. December' 29, 0.10 a.m.) . New York, December 28. Newspaper criticism of the German reply is becoming more outspoken. The New York ,"Times" says: "Tho reply everywhere.is considered unsatisfactory. It has the appearance of insincerity. Diplomatic evasions and subterfuges won't avail. Germany's unseemly reply will not incline President Wilson toward further, proposals." The New York "World" affirms unr'eservedy that Mr. Lansing's-first statement correctly represented the reasons for President Wilson's Note, and the "World" adds: "At the beginning of December Cabinet realised the danger of a break with Germany owing to submarining. President Wilson decided to send the Note, thereupon Count Bernstorff, seeing the acuteness of the situation, warned l Berlin, and the German overtures were made earlier than arranged, hoping thus to influence American opinion." . \ Washington, December 28. Count Bernstorff says the Note constitutes the acceptance of * everything suggested in President Wilson's Note. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AN INDICATION OF THE URGENCY OF THE SITUATION. , Amsterdam, December 26. Authoritative circles in Holland regard Germany's promptness in replying to President Wilson as an indication of the urgency of escaping from overwhelming internal difficulties, and securing peace, at all costs, while the military situation is favourable.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. /AUSTRIAN REPLY ALMOST IDENTICAL WITH'GERMANY'S. Paris, December 27. ■ Austria's reply to President Wilson's Note is almost identical with Ger-many's.—Aua.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ■ ■ THE TSAR'S MESSAGE ON GERMANY'S PIJACE PROPOSAL The High Commissioner reports:— London, December 27, 9.55 p.m. Tlie Tsar issued the following order to the army and navy on December 25:— ' „ "Peace at this moment would mean failure to utilise the fruits of untold trials of our heroic troops and fleet. Who dared to think that ho who commenced this war should Lave it in his power to conclude it at any time ho liked? Peace could only como after he enemy had been driven from tho Russian borders, and then only when finally broken so as to give the Allies reliable proof of the impossibility of a repetition of treacherous attack. By tHe strength of'theso guarantees he would be bound to secure tho fulfilment in poaco of those things lie had undertaken." The message concludes with an assurance of victory. TALK OF PEACE ONLY WHEN GERMANY IS BEATEN TO HER KNEES. / , New York, December 27. The New York "World" publishes an interview with the President of the Russian Duma, M. Rodzianko, regarding the peace Note. Spoaking for tho body of the Russian peoplo, M. Rodzianko says: "To talk of peace when the Allies are finally prepared to adequately meet Germany only offends. We can begin to .talk peace only when Germany has been beaten to her knees." — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DRAFTING THE ALLIES' REPLY TO GERMANY'S NOTE . London, December 27. Router's Agency learns that the Allied reply to Germany is being drafted in Paris. No action will be taken regarding the American and Swisn Notes

until the German has been dealt •with. The report that Britain has received a Swedish peace Note is erroneous, but it is boliovodl such a Note is imminent.—"The Times." i . CANNOT SURRENDER POTENTIAL VICTORY. (Rec. December 28, 10 p.m.) London, December 28. _ The "Daily Telegraph" says the Allies' reply to the German Note will state that they cannot surrender pot.en tial victory to a peace which would bo a German peace unless Prussian militarism was broken. JAPAN NOTIFIES HER ADHESION TO ALLIES' DECISION. Tokio, December 27. Japan notifies her entire adhesion to all the Allies' decisions regarding the German, American, arid Swiss Notes. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMAN SOCIALIST JOURNAL'S ADVICE TO FRANCE. • Amsterdam, December 27. The Socialist journal, , 'Vorwaert6/ , referring to tho French Senate's resolution of the 24th inst., says: "This conception of honour amounts to fanaticism. If tho French believe it possible to forcibly drive the Germans from French soil tlioy may calculate upon the slaughter of the entire male population of France. Franco will never win a more favourable peace than now. —lleuter. ~ , ' [The French Senate, by 194 votes to 60, passed a vote of confidence iu the Government. The resolution embodied the same sentence as the °ne addressed to tlio enemies of Franco by the Revolutionary Convention m 1/Jo. "France camiojt mako peace with enemies occupying her territory. | HUNGER LOWERING THE MORALE OF AUSTRIAN SOLDIERS Romo, Decembor 27. Letters found on prisoners-indicate that the spirit of revolt is spreading in Austria, where famino torments the people. The solcfiors are sutrenng aoutely and hunger is lowering their morale. . •■• c An official circular urges rigid economy, pointing, out that the situation is likely to be worse, and that "the most extreme efforts of will-power are necessary to enable us to.resist." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DISCREET INQUIRIES FOR HOTEL ACCOMMODATION FOR PEACE DELEGATES. , (Rec. December,-' 29, 0.10 a.m.) Tho Hague, German" agents are discreetly inquiring for hotel accommodation for pcaco | delegates. i ' SWEDEN'S PEACE APPEAL TO BELLIGERENTS. Washington, December 27. ! The State Department announces tbatSweden has forwarded a peaco Note, to tho belligerents resembling the Swiss Note. —A.US.-KZ. Cable Assn. Washington, December 27. has addressed a peaco appeal' to belligerents and 1 neutrals.—Router.