"THE VOICE OF FOLLY."

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2722, 17 March 1916, Page 7

"THE VOICE OF FOLLY."

Sir,—Your .editorial article under the ttbove heading is timely and pertinent, and ealoulated to assist in i the formation of definite publio opinion on the, subject of peace.' The overseas Dominions,' having borne so great a part in the war; will claim the right to be consulted when tlie terms of peace are to be.discussed, which is,not yet!. In "the meantime ' I 'think every effort should be made in every direction'to form a public opinion on the subject in New Zealand.

It seems to ine that those who now (from the standpoint of the Allies) make suggestions for immediate peace, are just as dangerous as German spies, and just as .deserving of internment or punishment.. Peace■ must be arranged by a conference, after the' following things have been oarried out, r.nd not until then

Allied: forces, the French : leading, inarch tlirough Berlin. Allied forces, Italians leading, march through Vienna. _ Russia take possession of Constantinople.-

The Kaiser executed as a murderer, by a common: hangman, -in front of Potsdam Palace^

j The German Navy destroyed or taken .over. ' '

Austria has played a secondary part throughout, and been the vassal of Germany; But it is_ time that "the most rotten Empire in Europe" was now up; and this war will not be wholly "effective if it does not lead to such measure of retaliation. For -Austria was for centuries the vile 'oppressor of smaller nationalities. The'stories of her cruelties form a terrible indictment.

No peace raiißt be thought of that does not completely smash the military power of Germany and reduce her .to •..the lpyel of Spain, as Spain is to-day. Out of this humiliation she ma.v, in • the future, rise again purified; and he* come a beneficent,, instead of a mis-' 'chievous, Power. In the meantime, Germans- should be absolutely excluded from the British Dominions.—l am, etc., ■ V OIVIS BEITANNIOUS.