THE WAR.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11107, 27 December 1916, Page 2

THE WAR.

THE WILSON NOTE. INDIRECT REPLY TO GERMANY AND PRESIDENT WILSON. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Paris, Dec. 24. The Senate, by 194 votes to 60, carried a vote of confidence in the Government. The resolution embodied the same sentence as one ad- [ dressed to the enemies of France by the Revolutionary Convention of IT9B —“France cannot make peace with enemies her Jterritory. * * The pnbllc are enthnsiastio, and interpret this as a reply to Germany and President Wilson. A WARNING TO FRENCH SOCIALISTS. Renter. Paris, Dec. 22. M. Gustav Herve, the well known French journalist, warns the French Socialists that they are walking into a trap set by Berlin, by demanding to see the Kaiser’s conditions of peace. He adds, “Germany will not produce conditions which will make the French working class shudder with horror, but such as will make all the peasantry gape with delight, expressing flattering admiration for France. Germany will offer to evacuate France and Belgium, and then ask if the French are willing to fight to restore Poland and Constantinople to Russia. If n pacifist wave follows, yon will have broken the moral mainspring o£ France, and saved German militarism. The Kkiser did not ask us for peace; he only wants us to talk, and once thac starts he undertakes to divide and embroil the Entente until German peace terms have been accepted.” MR LANSING MAKES A FURTHER EXPLANATION Washington, Dec. 23. The State Department announces that if peace negotiations result in the establishment of a league to enforce peace, the United States will no longerjfo'low her historic policy of avoiding entangling alliances. She will probably become the ally of pan-American and certain European Powers. Mr Lansing regrets tbs British interpretation Tof the United States Peace Note. He explains that he did not mean that PresidentJWiJsnn believes the belligerents’ objects to be the same, but that H belligerent statesmen say they are tbe same. Well informed circles state that Germany will answer President Wilson by giving her peace terms confidentally. This is interpreted as an endeavour to use America as an agent for secret bargaining. It is unlikely that America will action this way. The New York Times states that Germany must now decide whether she will propose terms acceptahe to the Allies to continue to light tbe subject. There is a probability that in the not distant future the United States will enter tbe war against Germany. We know that German victory would be the greatest peril to the United States. PRESIDENT EXPECTED CRITICISM. Renter. Washington, Dec. 25. It is 'officially announced at the White House that the President is rather gratified that London and Berlin both criticise his Note, thus showing it was absolutely neutral. I When It was sent President Wilson, 1 foresaw that its first reception would be hostile, but he persists that America has a right to know details of what the nations expect to attain. For instance, would France he willing to quit if the Germans evacuated France and Belgium, or does she insist in the restoration of A Isace-Lorraine and demand an indemnity cn top of that? Also, what definitely is meant by “crushing militarism.” Despite press and political leaders’ comments the_ President professes the utmost faith that the belligerents will come to his way of thinking. THE CALL OF DESTINY TO AMERICA. New York, Dec. 24. Mr Lloyd George, interviewed by a representative of Everybody’s Magazine, said the world’s hope was that America would realise the call of destiny, making her tones louder and more insistent as the terrible months pass. That destiny lies in the enforcement of international law and rights. Mr Hall Caine, in a letter to the New York Times, says be does not doubt President Wilson’s sincerity, hut the lack of feeling in his Note is surprising,‘and almost stupefying. Never in the history of diplomacy has such a tragically untimely offer been made by the bead of a great nation. The Note has turned back the clock of peace many months. ITALIAN SENATE’S DECISION. Rome, Dec 24. After hearing Signor Castiili’s speech proclaiming Italy’s firm resolve to push the war to victory the Senate unanimously adopted a vote of confidence in the Government. REPORTED INTENTION OF MR LANSING TO RESIGN. Reuter. New York, Dec. 22. It i-i reported that Mr Lansing, Secretary of State, is resigning owing to President Wilson repudiating his statement that America was on the verge of war. Mr Lansing, on being questioned, hinted that if America entered the war she wonla turn the scale whichever way the sided. Friends of the Allies interpret this as an indication that President Wilson is determined to bring, Germany to terms, since it is manifest that America will net fight against the Allies.

VIEW OF GERMAN PRESS AND THE AMERICAN NOTE. London, Dec. 38. Presid c nt Wilson’s Note has aroused widesprea d interest in Germany. One group of newspapers view it favourably, others regard it as an attempt to help Britain in a critical moment. FURTHER THREATS OF FRIGHTED LNESS. Zurich, Dec. 22. It is reported that Germany has decided in view of Lord Robert Cecil’s announcement as to the arming of merchant ships that all such shall be sunk without warning, and thecrews treated as pirates. OUTBREAK OF FURY IN GERMANY. United Service. London, Dec. 22. The Matin’s Zurich correspondent states that the Entente’s statements and speeches regarding Germany’s Peace Note have provoked a renewed ontbtrst of fury. There is a unanimous call upon the Government for a fomidable intensification of the war against Britain and France. NOT THE TIME TO END THE WAR NEW ZEALAND WILL STAND FAST FOR VICTORY. London, Dec. 33, Sir Joseph Ward, addressing a gathering ot influential commercial men, deprecated misguided expressions of opinion regarding the war. He said: We should not allow a suggestion from a great outside country to influence us to knuckle down before the war is over. New Zealand will stand shoulder to shoulder with the Mother Country until the purposes of the war have been carried out.