UNKNOWN

Taranaki Daily News, 2 January 1917, Page 4

UNKNOWN

i HI! ALLIES' REPLY TO GERMANY, .hers was never any possible doubt as to the tenor of the Allies' reply to the • icnnan Peaxse Note. Ti;.: resume which is published in to-day's :ssuc will not fail to commend itself to the Empire. Although there are no fresh facts stated, lite Note is forceful and convincing. It was extremely unfortunate that at the outset of the reply it wn<: necessary to convict Germany of lraic.r.g two false statements, which in themselves cut away the ground on which the proposals were based; but two statements are, and have been for a ve;v long time past, the stock in trade of the German authorities, and have been made use of to deceive the German people and such (if the neutrals as Germany may be said to dominate. The first statement throws on the Allies tl.e responsibility for the war, while the second proclaims the Central Powers vidj.ious. There is no beating about the l.i/h in the plain terms in which,,the AllWs denounce the proposals as a sham, lacking all substance and precision. Germany is again reminded tha; sin , with Austria, desired and deliberately provoked the war, violated her solemn engagements, and has now put forwrr, not a peace oiler, but a suggestion, deliberately and artfully framed so as to indicate that the Central Powers we-e benevolently inclined towards a prac.''.cullv defeated f t-e according to the European war map, which, it is pointed out, only a superficial and passing phase of the situation, and ignoring l the present superiority of strength of tiv. Allies. It is advisable that the people of the Empire should note well the fallowing extract !om the Allies' reply: 'A peace concluded on these terms v:i uld only be to the advantage of fee aggressors, who, alter imagining they c-.mid reach their in two months, d : ?eovcred after a aiennium that it would never be attainable." The Entente Powers have now put definitely on record that the innumerable outrages committed '.>y the enemy against belligerents am! neutrals demand penalties repiiiat'cr: and- guarantees, of which Germany n\oids all mention. These sham peace proposals are so obviously made to 'liflu.T.c.; the future course of the war and to serve tlie 'special purpose o[ s!,aliening public opinion in Germany, wlier. l the people ,'.re becoming crushed by the terrible oufferinas and sac,'ifio« imposed on them, that the reply could not omit tcitiinenling on this aspect of the question, as well as on the threats of further outrages- and violations of neutrality. There was only one course foi the Allies to adopt, and that was to refuse to give consideration to a proj-eial that was empty and insincere Hie Allies are united in their dstenmur.tlon to end once and for all the forces which constituted a pe-..petua! menace to the nations, and to afford the enly effective gyi'rantee for the hilar* security of the world, They fear i;i!lfcer German threats nor German i'l'SjMi'ulnoss. but strong in their might a'.'d confident of th-.ir ability to accomplish their object liiev will pursue the wsr to a victorious conclusion. Had Germany been commonly honest in her eonouct of the war and proposed detailed trims', of peace they would have been given due consideration, but the isote makes it .absolutely clear that, the Alii*.,- have no faith i:i Germany's pledged word, and that a p.'.ace worth having can only follow the removal of the cause of the war. Nothing can alter that wisi decision.