Show PEACE PE TALK TIM 15 Is' Is SCOUTED IN LONDON Expressions of Public Men l and Newspapers Indicate I Strong Popular Sentiment Against Berlin Proposal COl 1 COMMENT REFUSED BY FOREIGN OFFICE Guarantees Against German Militarism and Conditions of Lasting Peace Declared Aim Ahn of Entente in r War ar SHOW NO WEAKENING L LONDON T ONDON Dec 13 a a. a m. m A m-A A AH H strong s of- of s sentis sentiment senti senti- m uncut ment nt opposed thc German peace pence proposal was evident expressions in the thc expressions last night both from public men and the thc British h press although these were without any agy word ord from high hig-h authoritative sources indicating I the attitude of the government It was noticeable that trio proposal profound impression Impression Impression had not created nn any sion amon among the average Londoners There was little talk In the hotels or oth other r public places I Government circles also heM held aloof I from Rn any discussion Slon The torch foreign n office ot- ot of office fice would make no comment In the absence of terms but Indicated that the British h attitude up to fo o the present was embodied In the declarations made from time to time b by tlc Tile former premier premier pre pre- mier and Viscount Grey Gret and that an any new proposals would hn have 0 to be bo considered con con- b by all the tha entente allies before a definite was attitude was possible Those In close association with the new government tool took the view that the Continued on Pago Page 6 6 LONDON SCOUTS TALK OF PEACE I G German erin all Proposals Regarded Gas as Unacceptable by Public 11 Men CIl and Press Continued From Pago 1 proposals proposal would provo prove entirely unacceptable unacceptable unac unac- mainly because tho they thoy were not likely to touch what the ruling authorities re regard ard n as guarantees I against again t German militarism that willI will permit En England land prance France and their allies I to demobilize their vast armies re reduce re- re duco duce their enormous military expenses I and return to lasting conditions of or peace One prominent official expressed himself to the tho Associated Press J today toda as being vory very skeptical that tho proposed proposed proposed pro pro- posed terms would offer oven a n basis for Cor n negotiation This official said however that tho the note was a S1 dramatic coup which would create Interesting developments In the tho diplomatic situation situation situation situ situ- and provide the first official peace overtures of ot the warThe war The offer finds the foreign office upset In the tho of oC a chan change o of or ad administration administration administration ad- ad ministration but as os the tho new foreign secretary A A. A J. J Balfour has kept most dose closely I in touch with the tho foreign affairs affairs af af- af- af fairs while serving serving- in a different de department le- le in the late government It Is 15 not expected that It will take tate long for tor him to be he as aR well prepared as ns Viscount Gre Grey the retiring foreign n secretary to take charge of oC Great Britain's end of oC any negotiations which might follow tollow Germanys Germany's offer oer Vlen w. w M of or Public Men lien r n. n Some Somo expressions Indicating the tho general drift of oC sentiment were as follows Sir Arthur Conan Doyle We e want to know more moro about tho the terms for tor without them tho imperial chancellors chancellor's chancellors chancellor's chancellors chancellor's chancel chancel- lors lor's suggestion of oC peace Is preposterous ous and ridiculous We Ye too are conscious conscious conscious con con- of victory and his will willbe willbe be laughed at The Marquis of oC Londonderry We Ye have havo got ot to win the thc war Peace at tho the present time would bo ho disastrous to the tho nation and tho the empire It Is anI only a question of time and we wo will rill win vin out absolutely Principal Burrows of Kings college No uNo peace Is possible on tho the basis that Germany German Is victorious Sir Gilbert Parker after atter mingling lIn with his associates In the house of or commons said This Is IR clearl clearly a political political po po- po- po poI I I maneuver designed to Impress tho the world as a dramatic stroke but having little serious purpose e toward I I securing an cn enduring peace One Ono of ot the chief essentials of an any peace would j I be such a curbing of German militarism militarism militarism militar militar- ism that a st resumption of or the present conflict would be Impossible Without Without With With- out such a guarantee England o Ith I and Franco France would bo be compelled as a matter of or defense self to retain vast armies and thus continue the enormous war burdens of or the tho present Instead of at be being being heing he- he ing permitted to resume peace with the assurance that the they will not again be bc plunged Into war var Armistice D Declared Importable The Tho morning newspapers In their editorial views on Germanys Germany's peace proposals take two main grounds rounds that tho offer should be rejected or that It should be met with a statement of or the terms on which the entente al allies allies allies al- al lies arc are willing to effect H R peace l leaving leaving leav leav- aInS' aInS a ing InS It to the central powers to accept acceptor or reject It Tho The Morning Post argues that the tile op opening of negotiations would Imply I an armistice in which Germany German would obviously occupy the tho predominant position position po po- and antl the tho qu question would be whether tho the entente allies were wore prepared prepared prepared pre pre- pared to accept terms dictated by German Ger Ger- man many It acI adds s that to grant rant an armistice armistice armistice armis armis- tice would be he to abandon the Ithe hope of oC ever evor gaining the power to force torce German Germany Germany Ger Ger- man many to submission Germany German says the Morning Post Poet known know she sho has reached her zenith and henceforth must decline Nothing therefore will better serve her purpose than an armistice The Dally Daily tall Mall describes the offer otter of ot the central powers as An Impudent old peace trick which Is becoming as hackneyed hackneyed hack hack- ne ed as tho conjuring o of rabbits out of a hat It adds that Dr von Beth Beth- mann-Hollweg mann Is no more entitled to the he hc courtesy courtes of a n reply than If he ho here gore were ere erean an armed burglar in a private house I I The Chronicle says say's Germany can have peace any n da day on our terms If It I she sho has an any doubt as to those terms torms I I she he can always Inquire of ot us We Ye have I always alwa's urged the tho disarmament of at the Prussian mill military tar machine and the surrender or destruction of ot Its nav navy and the whole of QC f its artillery We doubt whether the th the nightmare of a further further fur tur- ther competition In armaments leading loading loading load lead ing to a further war can be got rid oCon of oC on any less terms torms The Evening News sa says g that inasmuch Inasmuch Inasmuch Inas Inas- much as tho the Germans have havo obtained their maximum of or plunder and as the tho avenger In the tho shape of at Lloyd- Lloyd George Is about to inflict punishment G Germany now desires to make peace 0 |