COMMENTS ON THE OFFER

Grey River Argus, 15 December 1916, Page 3

COMMENTS ON THE OFFER

WHAT THE PAPERS THINK. POINTS TO ALLIES' • WAR AIMS. FOOD AND LOSSES MAKJS PEACE DESIRABLE. HOPE OF IMPRESSING ) NEUTRALS. ■ GERMAN DISCIPLINE ; WEAKENING. PEACE PROCURABLE ON ENTENTE'S TERMS'. . , Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn) LONDON. December 13. Newspapers to-day take the rhatter (ialmly, and" mostly 'dismiss the matter by reiterating Mr. Asouith s Guildhall declaration as. to the Kntente's war amis. They point out that it is impossible to discuss the idea in detail uritil a concrete offer is made. It .is safe to predict that the supposed detail offer, emanating 1 from the German Embassy at Washington, which leaked out at a late hour, will not bear discussion. The London organs, contrast Herr von Bethmann Holhveg''s bombast with M. Brigand's aiid Mr. Lloyd George's simple declaration pf a resolv^to fight for victory in their exchange of congratulations. The fear in some duarters seems to be that the Note will give a possible accession of strength ifoVthe pacificists. The newspapers opportunely quote influential German organs to show that the food problem in Germany is much more serious than supposed. Continental correspondents adduce fresh facts in the same sense. They also assert that the German mass levy was the last expiring effort, especially in view of the revelations of the enormous German losses on the Somme and at Verdun. These organs conclude that Germany's offer is a proof of approaching exhaustion. is T ow is the time for the Allies to go in and win. It means supreme national effort. . Nevertheless, it is universally supposed that Germany hopes to impress neutrals, arid the latter may accept Herr von Bethmann Hollweg's argument that Germany successfully fought a defensive war and that she can offer to negotiate without loss of prestige: also General von Hindenburg's view that Germany has won if she has made Allied war aims impossible. In that case neutrals, whose hopes have been raised high by this astute German statecraft, will be .seriously disappointed and they may blame the Allies. Germany will also probably utilise the Entente's rejection as an excuse for aggravating frightfulness towards neutral trade/ as well as towards her enemies. Finally, the peace kite in the north is ftying for domestic reasons. Possibly distress is weakening • German discipline, and the rulers want to stiffen the people. Nevertheless, Germany as a whole will accept Herr von Bethmann Hollweg's reading of the situation* if her rulers require further sacrifice and use the refusal of peace offers for that purpose.