THE PEACE RUMOURS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2769, 12 May 1916, Page 5

THE PEACE RUMOURS

TRACEABLE tTO THEjVATiCAN

CIRCUMSTANTIAL jSTORIES

By Telegraph—Press Aesociatiim—Copyright {"Times" and Sydney "Suii" Services.)-. Londor\, May -10. Several peace stories, traoeable to the •Vatican, have been published. The "Daily News" correspondent at Home says: "I atV informed from a trustworthy source that Count von Buelow has been sum™ moned to Headquarters in conx.cction with Hid Kaiser's peace initiative. The Kaiser is determined to open direct iiegotiations with the Allies if tho mediation of neutrals is not acceptable, and is prepared to givo tangible proof to convince tho Allies that Germany desires pe*w:e, and is prepared to make reasonable (sacrifices.

"Herr Bethmann-Ilollweg wilt remain at Berlin, while Count von Bueloiv will go on to Headquarters. Count von Binelow has been busy at Rome and Switzerland discussing peace." FOOD SHORTAGE IN'GERMMY CAN SHE KEEP GOING.? ' ' ' ' Copenhagen, Miay'lo. ' The "Kibe' Stiftstidonde," ■ after careful inquiries, is of opinion that iit is impossible for Germany, to keep the "war going till the end of the year owing? to tho shortage of food. Already,tho soldiers' rations have been cut down. . Ti.ey receive very little meat, aad most of the men on 'furlough appear to be physically weakened through insufficient food; but ammunition and arms are incredibly abundant. A shortage of horses hampers the artillery. There is groat slackness in discipline, and drastic measures are required to prevent the desertion af offlcei'S and men.

PUBLIC MORALE AFFECTED. Rome, May 10. A _ Swiss traveller,. irho was lately in Berlin, states that the German people are becoming discouraged. They understand that their hopes of a decisivo victory have vanished/;'Th'o terrible losses at Verdun, the failure of the, Irish lwolt, and regarding the efficacy of the Zeppelins and submarines, were contributary causes of the recent outbreaks In Berlin, Leipzig-, and other cities. HUNSV LATEST PEACE KITE DISSECTING THE .KTJMOUKS. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services!) ffiec. May 11, 5.5 p.m.) London, May Itt. The. German Humanity League is cdrcularising .European Peace Societies and declaring that it "knows from a trustworthy -source" that tho Ivaiscr sent an aide-de-camp with an autograph letter to the Pope urging the Pontiff to seek Ki:ag Alfonso's assistance to secure an armistice lor the discussion of a pcace without detriment to the legitimate aspiriw Hons of the various nationalities. The Leaguo adds: "The failure of the German arms in • France, and the stupendous sacat Verdun, have greatly impressed the "Vatican. Special envoys from the Rings of Bavaria and Saxony had a prolonged conference with Cardinal Gasparrfc (the Papal Secretary of State)/' The League mentions that there are numerous signs of restlessness throughout Germany, l>ut this is not worthy of much attention. 1 * '

Tho Vatican promptly destroyed tiio latest of- the Gorman peace manoeuvres by officially contradicting the statement that the Pope had telegraphed either to the Kaiser fir President Wilsou regarding peace negotiations. The Vatican authoritatively'adds: "The Pope has taken no such step"

he . latest peace kite has not excited the slightest interest in England, whore it is realised that it is obviously insincere, and the outcome of Germany's desiro to win neutrals' sympathy ami delude the German people that they are lighting a defensive war. 'lhe "Daily Mail" restate; the irrcduci. bio peace terms of (he. Allien—the evacuahonof all Allied-territory, tho surrender of Alsace-Lorraine, and an indemnity for damage done to Allied property by bombardment and looting. The "Daily Wail" adds: "The Allies canuot make peace whtlo'the German fleet remains at its full strength. ■ LATEST NEWS ABOME RUMOURS (lice. May 12, 0.40 a.m.) Amsterdam, Slay 11. Ine Nieinve Courant's" Berlin correspondent states that the secretary to the American Embassy has gone to Copenhagen to telegraph the report of Mr. Gerard s negotiations with the ICaiser regarding tho possibility of President Wilson initiating peace mediation. "APPLY TO PARIS." , n , .. New York, May 11. • f i r ork ''Tribune" says: "i[ President Wilson is impressed with this Gec•J a i l l )eact> talk, let him inquire at Paris, j-ctrograd, ;uid London. Thcro is no disguise about tho Allies' terms. Germany can have peace I>y paying; not otherwise, Sho should apply to Paris, not to Washington. PEACE TOPIC CANVASSED A KECENT' letter from the POPE. "Tho -Tiines's" Komo correspondent, Ivvitiug on March 0, said: "A letter sent by the Popo to his Vicar-Gencral (Cardinal l'ompili) on the subject of peace is causing much' discussion. The passago which has received most attention is that ,_u;.v rj.| 1Q wa y rcso i Vß

Hie monstrous conflict according to tho dictates of justice' is to 'take into account, as far as is just ami possible, lUe aspirations of peoples and make tho necessary sacrifices to tlieir amour-propre and particular interests.' This passage, together with tho contention that the peaqe to be aimed at is one 'not profitable to one side, but to both,' is strongly criticised in some quarters as putting the .two' contending groups on equal terms. On tho other hand, it is maintained that tho reforunco to the 'dictates of justice" clearly "excludes what is known here as 'a German peace/ and implies repara. Hon for the wrongs committed by Germany. Many people say that the letter has no political significance at all, aad is of a purely religious character. Tho most-interesting'comment is that of the "i'ribuna,' whioli trays that l.ho letter signifies the cessation of any active efforts on tho part of tho.Vatican in favour of peace. The Tribuna' report's that it is realised in Vatican circles that tho action hitherto "taken in the hope of inducing the Jiatiois to consider terms of peace has not only failed, but has tended to compromise tho efforts of tile Pope on behalf of tho wounded and prisoners. The 'Stampa' also says that the letter implies an alteration of tho Vatican policy. The clerical 'Corriero d'ltalia' thinks the most significant passage in the letter is that which claims that the en. doavours of the Popo have awakened the keenest desiro for peace in tho hearts of the peoples. The "CorricreV comments are considerably censored." ■ Portuguese Minister's View. Senhor Sidonio Paul, tho Portuguese Minister in Berlin, recently gave to "The Times" Pal'is correspondent his impressions of Gcrmany'6 desire for peace. "In Berlin, Hamburg, and other German cities which I recently visited," he said, " the whole outlook upon the war has radically changed during tho last few months. Not only the masses, whose heart was never really in the war, but the financial and commercial class, tho Prussian aristocracy, and even, the ofiicials, have one main desire—for peace. The attack on Verdun was certainly undertaken in tho hope of hastening the end, because the military'men, who last, year pretended that the destruction of Eussia- was the surest means of securing a rapid peace, now maintain that Branca is the chief obstacle, whose resistance muot be broken. The German public has no notion how heavy the losses at Verdun have been. . Whon the truth leaks out the disappointment will be severe.' But I would warn you against undue optimism. Tho German people are feeling tho pinch of war. The lack of butter, bread, and other necessary commodities is severely felt. But the people are far too disciplined to do more- than grumble, for a long time to come. The result of tho war is not in doubt, but the Allies must bo prepared for a protracted and sullen resistanco on the part of Germany, and ought not to underestimate the difficulty of wearing down tho spirit of a people which, after all, is profoundly patriotic and schooled to accept with fatalistic resignation the do- j cisioTis of its Government. The word | 'fatalism' best expresses, tho mood of Germany to-day. "Warlike enthusiasm has pone.' Hops of a sweeping victory has departed, bi>i nothing justifies the supposition that-the German masses are likely to revolt against tile authorities for l'nany a long day. The Allies must, therefore, redouble their efforts to render tho blockade increasingly stringent, and make up their minds to the fact that, though halfbeaten, Germany is far from recognising in practice the hopelessness of lior plight,"