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Show MMUVEfl Allied Governm e n t s Hand Collective Note to Neutral Envoys; Fix Responsibility for Conflict Con-flict on the Central Empires; Say Teutons Are Not Victors; Reparation Repa-ration Is Demanded. ATTEMPT IS SEEN TO COW NEUTRALS Peace Declared "Impossible "Impos-sible Until Rule Is Made , That Definitely Suppresses Causes of War and Until Efficacious Effica-cious Guarantees Are Given for Security of World." PARIS, Pec. 30. In reply to the proffer of Germany and her allies for a peace conference, the entente allies, iu a collective note, declaro that they "refuse to consider a proposal which is empty and insincere." The note was banded to the American ambassador, William Graves Sharp, today by Premier Briand, and was made public simultaneously in London aud Paris. The entente allied governments insist in-sist that no peace is possible so long as they have not secured reparation for violated rights and liberties and the free existence of small states and have not brought about a settlement for the future security of the world- The note declares that the proposal of the central cen-tral powers is not an offer of peace, but "a war maneuver. " It is declared to be founded on "calculated misinterpretation misinterpre-tation of the character of the struggle in the past, the present and the future. fu-ture. ' ' Belgium's Aims Outlined. The note does not specifically outline the definite war aims of any of the entente governments except Belgium. Before the war, it is pointed out, Belgium Bel-gium asked for nothing but to live in harmony with her neighbors. Assailed in spite of the treaties guaranteeing her inviolnbility, Belgium, the note says, has taken up arms to defend her independence and "her neutrality -violated by Germany." Belgium's aim, which is declared to be the only aim of her king and government, gov-ernment, is described as "the re-establishment of peace and justice." But they only desire peace which would assure as-sure to their country legitimate reparation, repara-tion, guarantees and safeguards for the future. Provoked by Germany. The note, which is the joint act of Belgium, France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Montenegro, Portugal, Rumania, Russia and Serbia, declares that the present strife was desired, provoked and declared by Germany aud Austria-Hungary, Austria-Hungary, and that G crmanv made no ' effort to bring about -a pacific solution of the trouble between Serbia and Austria-Hungary, as did Great Britain, Prance and Russia. A peace concluded upon the German pi lea would be only to the advantage of the central powers, says the note, while disasters caused by the war demand de-mand penalties, reparation and guarantees. guaran-tees. The German overtures are described (Continued on Page Two.). PROPOSAL OP THE GERMANS TUB DOWN Entente Allies Send Joint Note in Which Peace Proffer Is Declared Insincere. (Continued from Page One.) as a calculated attempt to influence the future course of the war and to end it by imposing a German peace. The overtures over-tures also are said to have the effect of intimidating neutral public opinion as well as to stiffen opinion in the central cen-tral powers, "worn out by economic pressure and crushed by the supreme effort which has been imposed upon their inhabitants. ' ' "Finally," it is asserted, "these overtures attempt to justify in advance in the eyes of the world a new eeries of crimes submarine warfare, deportar tions, forced labor and forced enlistment enlist-ment of tho inhabitants against their own countries and violations of neutrality." neu-trality." Full Text of Note. The txt of the note follows: The allied governments of Belgium, TTance, Great Briiain, Italy, Japan, Montenegro, Portugal. Rumania, Russia Rus-sia and Serbia, united for the defense of the liberty of their peoples and faithful to the engagements taken not to lay down their arms separately, have resolved to reply collectively to the pretended propositions of peace which were addressed to them on behalf be-half of the enemy governments through the Intermediary of the ""nlted States, Spain, Switzerland and Holland. Before making any reply, the allied powers desire particularly . to protest against the two essential assertions of the note of the enemy powers that- pretend to throw upon the allies responsibility for the war and proclaim the victory of the central cen-tral powers. The allied governments cannot admit ad-mit an affirmation doubly Inexact and which suffices to render sterile all tentative negotiations. The allied nations na-tions have sustained for thirty months a war they did everything to avoid. They have shown by their acts their attachment to peace. That attachment at-tachment is as strong today as It was In 1914. But It Is not upon the word of Germany, after the violation of its engagements, tha t the peace broken by her may be based. Not an Offer of Peace. A mere suggestion, without a statement state-ment of terms, that negotiations should be opened, is not an offer of peace. The putting forward by the Imperial government of a sham proposal pro-posal lacking all substance and precision preci-sion would appear to be less an offer of peace than a war maneuver. It Is founded on calculated misinterpretation misinterpreta-tion of the character of the struggle In the past, the present, and the future. fu-ture. As for the past, the German note takes no account of the facts, dates and figures which establish that the war was desired, provoked and declared de-clared by Germany and Austria-Hungary. At The Hague conference It was a German delegate who refused all proposals pro-posals for disarmament. In July, 1914, it was Austria-Hungary, who, after having addressed to Serbia an unprecedented unpre-cedented ultimatum, declared war upon her in spite of the satisfaction which had been accorded at once. Pacific Solution Prevented. The central empires then rejected all attempts made by the entente to bring about a pacific solution of a purely local conflict. Great Britain suggested a conference; France pro- Fosed an international commission; he emperor of Russia asked the German emperor to go to arbitration, and Russia and Austria-Hungary came to an understanding on the eve of the conflict. But to all these efforts ef-forts Germany gave neither answer nor effect. Belgium was Invaded by an empire em-pire which had guaranteed her neutrality neu-trality and which had the assurance to proclaim that treaties were "scraps of paper," and that "necessity Knows no law." , At the present moment these sham offers on the part of Germany rest on the "war map" of Europe alone, which represents nothing more than a superficial and passing phase of the situation and not the real strength of the belligerents. A peace concluded upon these terras would be only to the advantage of the aggressors, who, after imagining that they would reach their goaf In two months, discovered dis-covered after two months that they could never attain It. Penalties Imperative. As for the future, the disasters caused ty tne uerman declaration oi war and the innumerable outrages committed by Germany and her allies against both belligerents and neutrals demand penalties, reparation and guarantees. Germany avoids mention of any of these. In reality, these overtures made by the central powers are nothing more than a calculated attempt to influence the future course of war and to end it by Imposing a German peace. The object of these overtures is to create dissension in public opinion in the allied countries. But that public opinion has, in spite of all the sacrifices sacri-fices endured by the allies, already given Its answer with admirable firmness firm-ness and has denounced the empty pretense of the declaration of the enemy en-emy powers. They have the further object of stiffening public opinion in Germany and in the countries allied to her one and all severely tried by their losses, worn out by economic pressure and crushed by the supreme effort which baa been Imposed upon their inhabitants, inhabi-tants, I They endeavor to deceive and in- j rlmidate public opinion in neutral i countries, whose inhabitants have i long since made up their minds where the initial responsibilities lie and are far too enlightened to favor the designs de-signs of Germany by abandoning- the defense of human freedom. Attempt to Justify Crime. Finally these overtures attempt to justify in advance in the eyes of the world a new series of crimes submarine subma-rine warfare, deportations, forced labor la-bor and forced enlistment of the inhabitants in-habitants against their own countries and violations of neutrality. Fully conscious of the gravity of this moment, but equally conscious of its requirements, the allied governments, govern-ments, closely united to one another and in perfect, sympathy with their peoples, refuse to consider a, proposal which is empty and insincere. Once again the allies declare that no peace is possible so long as they have not secured reparation for violated vio-lated rights and liberties, the rec-t ognition of the principle of nationalities nationali-ties and of the free existence of small states; so long as they have not brought about a settlement calculated to end once and for all forces which have constituted a perpetual menace to the nations and to afford the only ffeclive guarantee for the future se-i se-i curity of the world. In conclusion, the allied powers " think it necessary to put forward the foilowinc considerations, which show the special situation of Belgium, after two and half years of war. In virtue of the interna t lonal treaties signed hy five great European powers, of whom Germany was one, Belgium enjoyed before the war a special status, rendering her ' territory inviolable in-violable and placing her, under the guarantee of the powers, outside all European conflicts. She was, however, how-ever, in spite of these treaties, t lie first to suffer the aggression of Germany. Ger-many. For tills reason the Belgian government think it necessary to de-iine de-iine the alms which Belgium has never ceased to pursue while fighting Bide by side with the entente powers for right and justice. Belgium always has scrupulously fulfilled the duties which her neutrality neutral-ity imposed upon her. She has taken up arms to defend ner independents and her neutrality violated by Germany Ger-many and to show that she remains faithful to her international obligations. obliga-tions. , Aggression Admitted. I On the 4th of August, 1914, In the ! reichstag. the German chancellor nd-i nd-i mined that this aggression consti-I consti-I tuted an injustice contrary to the i laws of nations and pledged himself I in the name of Germany to repair it. During two and a half years this injustice in-justice has been cruelly aggravated by the proceedings of the occupying forces, which have exhausted the resources re-sources of the country, ruined its industries, in-dustries, devastated its towns and villages, and have been responsible for innumerable massacres, executions and imprisonments. At this very moment, while Germany Ger-many is proclaiming peace and humanity hu-manity to the world, she is deporting deport-ing Belgian citizens by thousands and reducing them to slavery. Belgium before tho war asked for nothing but to live In harmony with her neighbors. Her king and her government gov-ernment have but one aim the re-establishment of peace and Justice. But they only desire peace which would assure to their country, legitimate reparation, guarantees and safeguards safe-guards for the future. |