Northern Advocate Daily With which is incorporated the Northern Mail Daily. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1916. PEACE BLUFF.

Northern Advocate, 14 December 1916, Page 2

Northern Advocate Daily With which is incorporated the Northern Mail Daily.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1916. PEACE BLUFF.

Registered for transmission through the post as a newspaper.

Cables from Lonodn and Paris today state that the peace offerings made by the Germans arc taken as

"colossal bluff. ' This opinion ; s not -only held in Britain and France but also neutral countries. America openly ridicules the' proposals, and admits that they cannot be taken seriously. There can be no doubt whatever that the Allies want peace. The ghastly horror of bloodshed and destruction which has gripped Europe in its full clutch has been none of our creating. Every heart in the British Empire is crying out for peace, but to use a rather hackneyed term, there is "peace and peace." The peace which Germany offers is aot what the Allies can accept to-day. Xot because of any desire to wreck vengeance upon the enemy, but because the terms offered provide no security for a peace which will leave Europe—big States and small—free to follow their course of development free from the domination of Prussian militarism. We are not "lighting Germany to a finish" simply with, the object of avenging crimes, but because it is necessary in the interests of civiliastiou that the power of unscrupulous oppression should be rem.o.ved from the hands of the trainedbullies of the Continent. 'Germany's. peace offering is more than bluff. It •■s au additional insult-to belligerents and noiitr.-i!s alike insomuch that .it ignores every obligation and glorifies every crime which has been committed. The ante-bellum status suggestion is absurd. .Can this vampire nation wh'.ch has preyed upon the rights and privileges of humanity appeal at the bar of humanity without contrition, or without chastisement? Can this nation which has wantonly violated 'God's laws have the right to' plead w.i Divine recognition of its appeal? . No! Germany has been on offender ngainst a!! tb" laws wi)i"h s:ivo her a right to pi: ! i iM'.fore ihr. tr;b:'::ai of m'ink:nd. exr<.:;>: as a suppliant f 1 " ir.c rcy. Therefore* we may entertain no doubts as rp how yon Holhveg's sophistry will be received.