MORE PEACE TALK

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2638, 8 December 1915, Page 5

MORE PEACE TALK

APPEAL BY THE POPE AT A SECRET CONSISTORY the Papal state By Telegraph—Press ABSociatlon->Oopyriflil (Rec. December 7, 7.40 p.m.) Rome, December 6. The Pope, at a secret Consistory, made a stirring appeal for speedy peace. His Holiness declared that modern nations could not be permitted to conduct a war of extermination, nevertheless, peace must bo just and lasting, mi ' a ™ ur > n K any particular group. Hie Popo expressed tlie deepest commiseration for the Armenians in the war, and the abnormal and impossible situation in which they had been placed. "Such a peace as we suggested in otir original letter to tho Powers be based on an exchange of ideas. Betting forth with completeness and clearness tho belligerents' aspirations, eliminating those which are unjust. It is absolutely necessary that each group should cede some points, renounce others, and make concessions with good grace, oven if it costs some sacrifice, in order not to assume before God and man an .enormous responsibility for this terrible slaughter, which is without precedent, and which, if continned, may prove to be the beginning of a decadence from a prosperous civilisation to which Christianity has uplifted the world." CERMAN INTRIGUE. (Reo. December 7, 7.40 p.m.) Rome, December 6. Dr. E. J. Dillon savs that Cardinal Hartmann, the German delegate, arrived some day* before the consistory, and worked for peace on Teutonic lines. The enforced absenoe of Cardinal Mercier (Belgium) was a source of cliagrin to the Pope, who was anxious to have an assemblage of Cardinals accurately representing tho groups of belligerents. "The Teutons are now in the ascendancy, and the Entente Powers are unable to make headway." GERMANIC POWERS REPORTED PLEDGE REVIVAL OF THE PAPAL STATE. London, December 6. The "Standard" states that._ three Spanish newspapers, one belonging to the Mannesmanns, German pioneers in Morocco, say that the Premiei of Bavaria, at a private sitting of the Fir nance Committee of tho Diet, stated that Germany, Austria, and Turkey were pledged to assign Italian territory for the revival of the Papal State. German Roman Catholic newspapers represent Germany as championing the temporal power of the Pope.

VON HINDENBURffS PEACE VIEWS ALLIES ABE "NOT SUFFICIENTLY" SHATTERED. ' Amsterdam, December 6. Field-Marshal von Hindenburg, interviewed, confessed that the Entente Powers did not desire peace; they were not sufficiently shattered. Germany must therefore continue to press them. The German tactioal situation was excellent. He believed the Russian reserves which had now been called up could not create new armies.- He honed there would be no peace till the chief culprits—England, > Servia, and Italy— had been punished as they deserved. TREACHEROUS BLUFFING. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. December 7 5,5 p.m.) , London) December 6. Tile German l'ress is deliberately pro. moting the belief that peace talk is popular m England, and reporting that Lord Haldano and Mr. Mastermaa (exOabinet Ministers) declare that there is an increasing desire for a definite l understanding as to the intentions of Mr. Asquith's Ministry as to what the war is for, and whether it is disposed to enter into peace negotiations. Meanwhile Germany is frantically warned against waste and not to burn candles ni Christmas. 1 The "Daily Mail" says that "the Germans tried peace talk in 1870, finding Miis cheaper than expending lives and shells. The arrnv fought most vigorously while the Government was talking its loudest, and succeeded in deluding and slackening the French efforts and bringing up German reinforcements. "The Empire Bhould keep its eyes on the map. People will find that the Germans, while trying to fool their enemies by peace talk, are getting on with the war." STOP-THE-WAR AGITATORS IN GERMANY SOCIALISTS SENT TO PRISON. ' Cenova, December 6. Three leading German Socialists— Waslscher, Poetsch, and Thetmever— have been sentenceid to terms of imprisonment for inciting the publio by declaring that the war ought to be stopped before more valuable lives have been sacrificed. Another Socialist, named Cans, was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment for declaring that German militarism caused the war,' and that he longed for an Allied victory. FOMVS~ARK MORE ABOUT THE MISSION'S DEPARTURE New York, December 6. Ford's party got a mixed send-off. Mr. W. J. Bryan (ex-Secretary of State) and Mr. T. A. Edison gave their fervent blessing to the party; on the othor hand, German workers on the quay farewelled with ories of "Gott strafe you I" Twenty-three of the party are women, forty-four are pressmen, and three biographists. The most prominent members of the party are Mr. Bethea (Lieutenant-Governor of South Carolina) and Senator Robson.

Mr. Ford told an interviewer that coma persons had seen fit to be sceptical' as to the success of bis plans, "but . I think they will change . their view._ All I know is that belli.cerents are siclc with waiting for a disinterested party to step in with the offer of mediation." Copenhagen, December 6. Mr. Ford's ship first calls at Norway. where peace meetings will be permitted, provided they da not interfere with Norwegian interests. Mr. Ford claims that _ the King of Norway has written to him, sympathising with his object. Denmark has also dccided to allow meetings to be held. POLITICAL MOVEMENT IN SCANDINAVIA SWEDISH EOREIGN MINISTER VISITS NORWAY. Stockholm, December 6. Herr Wallenberg (Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs) lias departed to Cliristiania. It is assumed his visit is connected with tho agreement for political co-operation wlich was the outcome of tho recent meeting of the Kings of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. at Malmoe. Herr Wallenberg enjoys the confidence of Norwav and Denmark. Count von Revcntlow (tho well-known German naval and military writer) regards his mission with juis«