ASTONISHMENT IN LONDON.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14293, 23 December 1916, Page 5

ASTONISHMENT IN LONDON.

GENERAL OPINION CONDEMN-i- ---_ TORY.

A PRO-GERMAN MANOEUVRE. ,

NOTE ANSWERED IN ADVANCE

(United Service!)

(Received Dec. 22, 9.35 p.m.) . n London, Dec. .21. President Wilson's Note caused a sensation in London. The o- cnen >] opinion is wholly unfavourable, regarding it as an ill-timed attempt ac interference after Mr Lloyd George's decided refusal to entertain Germany'!, overtures. , \

The Times" says Mr Wilson's ■ conduct is inexplicable,, because the whole line of argument in the Note contravenes the elemental;*- facts of the origin of the war. Mr Wilson has placed America in an ambiguous position by building his intervention on tne selfish interests of 'America.- The Aote is resented as a pro-German manoeuvre and an attempt to obtain notoriety by putting forward proposals tor a conference which even Germany has not, ventured to make. The "Daily Mail" says Mr Wilson's iSotehas' caused the greatest astonishment It was evidently prepared before Mr Lloyd George's speech, and is therefore answered before delivery The Allies' peace terms are known to all, and. Mr Lloyd George made them unmistakably clear. • The "Daily Mail" says the Note reached the American Embassy in cipher pn Tuesday night, and was' decoded while Mr Lloyd George was proclaiming Britain's terms in the House or Commons. :

The 'Morning Post" says America is a long way from the war centre, but the President's detachment passes belief It is strange that America still professes ignorance of the fact that Germany is fighting for the domination of the world, and intended to force terms on Russia, reduce France to the position of a-.vassal," and then strike at isolated England. Does Mr Wilson suppose that the Monroe Doctrine and the American navy would then have been sufficient to protect North and South America? If Mr Wilson desires to end the war now he must range himself by the side of the Allies and help to defeat Germany, or by the silo of Germany against the Allies. If he is not prepared to fight he must stand aside and allow the war to be fought to an issue. .