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Show RUSSIAN FOREIGN OFFICE EXPLAINS PEACE ATTITUDE PKTROGRAD, via London. Doc. 16. 10:11 p. in. A further exposition of the Russian government's attitude toward the Gorman poaee proposal Is contained in the following statement obtained by the Associated As-sociated Pre.Hs from the Russian foreign office: A complete and emphatic rejection by Russia of Germany's offer ea hardly have been necessary to con-vlnco con-vlnco America and other neutrals of tho attitude which the allies will take, toward Germany's Insincere peace proposals. Germany's wish to Impress Im-press the neutral nations must have failed through the very nature of the proposal and the transparency of the motives which Inspired It. The nation na-tion honestly desirous of commencing poace negotiations uses more dignified nnd direct methods. She does not advertise her intentions throughout tho world before her proposals have been even transmitted to the powers concerned. The German declaration has the character of a sensational net of publicity pub-licity calculated to impress the neutral powers. Beyond this It does not merit serious consideration. What the enemy ene-my suggests is a peace dictated by her and in accordance with the verv ideas which the allies are fighting to destroy ideas of German hegemony of the Prussian type. Russia cannot speak of peace with an opponent who has proclaimed himself him-self the victor. The rejection of Germany's proposal in no sense places Russia in the position of a nation not desirous of a durable peace or insensible insen-sible to the urgent necessity of rescuing res-cuing Europe from the calamity which has cast its shadow over the entire world. But Russia will continue to suffer this calamity and add indefinitely indefi-nitely to the sacrifices which she already al-ready has made rather than submit to the greater catastrophe threatened by German imperial ambitions. What Russia, In common with her allies, desires, is not a destroyed Germany, Ger-many, but the final defeat "of these ambitions of German domination. When Germany desires a fair and lasting peace Russia will be disposed to consider the time ripe for peace negotiations. |