File No. 763.72/3081
The Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 23,11.50 p. m.]
4768. Press summary. The comment of the Liberal papers on Lloyd George’s speech is moderate; although all resigned to a rejection of Germany’s peace offer, which the Entente has deliberately misconstrued, they are certain that a great moral effect has been produced by the step and that the thought of peace has been mightily stimulated. It is pointed out that Lloyd George’s conditions exclude negotiation since negotiation implies accommodation of interests and that the sole reason advanced by him for rejecting the peace offer is the fact that Germany wants to negotiate instead of surrendering unconditionally and doing penance.
Frankfurter Zeitung is inclined to believe that the formal note of the Allies will not be a denial but will contain conditions on which they would be willing to negotiate. If these conditions are such as would humiliate Germany if acceded to, then it will be apparent that the Entente does not honestly want peace at all and that the responsibility for the continuance of the war will fall upon the statesmen of the Entente. Germany will consider any possibility of negotiation which the note of the Allies may leave open, but she cannot see that they have the right to judge and Germany must pay the penalties, nor can she ever agree to action which would cast dishonor on her brave soldiers.
Count Reventlow writes that there is only one reply to Lloyd George, and that is to employ any and every means of warfare heedlessly and recklessly. The proud reference to the overcoming of Napoleon was all right but England must remember that Napoleon had no submarines.