GERMANY'S PEACE PROGRAMME

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2955, 19 December 1916, Page 5

GERMANY'S PEACE PROGRAMME

DISCUSSED IN BERLIN SOCIALISTS FAVOUR LIMITATION OF ARMAMENTS ' . . . ' Amsterdam, December 17. The Conservative and Sooialist minority parties discirssed the peace proposals. The Conservatives approved' the Note, but saw little chance of its acceptance,' and protested to the Reichstag that the parties had not been given the opportunity of debate, because the world would then have learned that the German people were unanimous in .not desiring to hasten peace it all costs, I but were leady to fight to the last if it was a. question of securing the future existence, of _ Germany. ' . The Socialist minority resolved that if the Note led to peace, it would he necessary for all countries to renounce the idea of annexation of territory or the political and military subjection of any people. Armaments should everywhere be restricted., and international agreements on all differences submitted to mediation.—Renter. • " ~ [ BERNSTORFF ENGINEERING A PRESS CAMPAIGN. I ' . . . Washington, December 17: Count Bernstorff is endeavouring; to manipulate a Press campaign favourable to a peace conference. The Hearst papers are assisting by publishing special artioles. The "Evening Journal" is organising a peace petition to President Wilson.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. . HOLLWEG DEMANDED UNFETTERED POWERS OF NEGOTIATION, • „ , „ „ . Zurloh, December 17. Herr Bethmann Hollweg, prior to the meeting of the Reichstag, refused to give the peace details to a private conference of party leaders. The Chancellor demanded unfettered powers of negotiation, otherwise he would resign. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. EXTRAORDINARY PRECAUTIONS TAKEN IN BERLIN.' London, December 17. The "Daily Telegraph's" Rome correspondent says that extraordinary precautions were taken in Berlin in view of the meeting of the Reichstag. Gravest happenings were considered probable, owing to the excitement of the hungry populace. People are hoping to see largo supplies of Rumanian cereals, but they have not yet arrived.—"The Times." COUNTING THE CHICKS BEFORE THEY ARE HATCHED. Amsterdam, December 17. It appears that the Germans are already dividing the spoils. Welt-inforni-ed circles state that Germany is discussing the following rearrangement of territory, based on the idea that the restoration of Rumania's independence is not desired: Russiato receive Moldavia as compensation for considerable territorial sacrifices which will be demanded of her. Poland to be made an independent kingdom. Courland, a German Federal State. Lithuania to be incorporated in Prussia. The Dobrudja to bo restored to Bulgaria. Wallaoliia to be divided between Austria, Germany, and Bulgaria.—Reutor. NOT A FAVOURABLE TIME FOR PEACE NEGOTIATION ON THE GERMAN PLAN. Copenhagen, December 17. The "Koelnische Zeitung's" correspondent at Zurich learns that the Swiss Government does not consider the present moment favourable for peace negotiations such as Germany asks the neutrals to transmit, and does not believe there is any prospeotof reaching a_ result in the direction of the German peace efforts. _ It believes that it is not impossible that a mediator might be open to suspicion, and tho Swiss Parliament will not discuss any offer.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMAN NOTE SUGGESTS A CONFERENCE OF BELLIGERENTS. Copenhagen, December 18.' Tho "Frankfurter Zeituiis" says Tie Gorman Note does not contain peace terms, hut suggests a conference of all belligerents, whero each will announce its peaco conditions and the ideals for which thoy are fighting, the conference to be held at The Hague about January 15, the fighting to continue meanwhile. —Renter. PEACE PROPOSALS PROVING A TWO-EDGED WEAPON. Paris, December 17. The "Journals" correspondent at Zurich says the German people" are bitterly disappointed at tho failure of tho peaco proposals, tho Chancellor's coup proving a two-edged weapon which will ran the hopes raised, rendering a rekindling of tho fighting ardour difficult. The people realise that despite tho apparent victories they must endure fresh miseries, since tho Allies' refusal is based on'confidence of final victory.—Reuter. NOTE FORWARDED BY SPAIN TO FOUR POWERS. „ • , r ,i ,■ -r. -r London, December 17. Spam ha 3 forwarded the Peace Noto to Portugal, Belgium, Italv, and Ru-mania.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable 'Asgh,

HOW THE NEWS WAS RECEIVED IN THE FIRST LINE FRENCHES i, , . ' London, December 17, iveutor s correspondent ab Headquarters says that the first intimation of too neaco proposals to the tirst-luio trenches came mostly from the German trenches, where chalked boards quoting the Kaiser's grandiloquent speech about his army wero exhibited. They wero received with scepticism and sarcasm. The correspondent, summarising tho views of officers and raon, says the speech is interpreted, as an admission that the Germans ■wish for peace badly, but the terms are impossible. Tho troops believe that tho terrible hammering the enemy has received and is about to receive on tho Sommo, is tho governing factor of tho proposals. The correspondent declares that there would be the profoundest indignation if tho order to coaso hostilities was given under any other conditions than a tantamount Germam admission of coming defoat.—Reuter. SIGNIFICANT TONE OF GERMAN ORDERS OF THE DAY. \ London, December 17. "Tho Times' " correspondent at Headquarters says that it is significant that among the prisaueTs taken on the Sommo sinco August there is no talk of German victory. Captured' orders of the day show a steadily growing note of despondency. The orders continually refer to officers and men malingering on duty, and contain frenzied exhortations to the troops to hold their ground, and threats and humiliating regulations against the increasing tendency to desertion. On the Somme alofiS'fEe Germans lost approximately two-thirds of the strength of one-half of all the units of the army.—"The 'Times." i "WE SHALL CARRY ON UNTIL GERMANY ATONES FOR HER ' CRIMES." I London, December 17. ! Mr. W. F. Massey, in an article in "Lloyd's Weekly," says: "If the Kaisorthinks wo are going to makepeace on his terms it is another of tho Kaiser's many mistakes. Tho British do not forget tho peace proposals were made in Germany, and distrust them accordingly. The present proposals are an insult to the Empire. We shall carry on until Germany atones for her crimes."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. COMMENTS OF THE PORTUGUESE PRESS. I London, December 17. The Portuguese Press demands the inexorable chastisement of Germans before peace is made.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. INDIA CONSIDERS THE PEACE OFFER AN IMPUDENT PROPOSAL. Delhi, December TS. Practically the whole of the British and vernacular Press consider the German peace offers as an impudent proposal and impossible to accept. A; number of papers insist on unconditional surrender.—Reuter. DIVISION OF BELGIUM ONE OF THE PEACE TERMS. (Reo. December IS, 5.5 p.m.) London, December 17. The "Daily Chronicle's" Amsterdam correspondent understands that the German, terms include the division of Belgium into two parts, Flemish and Walloons, each to have a separate civil organisation, united under one sovereign. The recent establishment of. a Flomish university, at Ghent foreshadowed this decision. The other terms, are designed to inflict the largest losses on Russia.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. NOT A MANOEUVRE BUT A SERIOUS ATTEMPT TO END THE WAR A GERMAN PAPER'S LABOURED EXPLANATION OF PEACE ' PROPOSALS. (Rec. December 18, 9.40 p.m.) mL «,- „ 4 ,;, ■'~ . London, December 18. the iranbturter /Oeitung, -m a, series of articles on the peace proposals, apparently representing the view held in Government quarters, explains at great length that the step was not a manoeuvre, but a serious attempt to end the war. "If the parties enter into negotiations with a. view to reaching a voluntary agreement, tEey ought to be satisfied with what they consider absolutely necessary for national existence. The big apparent differences would be less important if the parties 'in verbal conversations went deeper into each other's claims. An agreement concerning the' limitation of armaments might be reached and a modus vivendi found for fixing the relative strengths of tho Gorman and British fleets.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE GERMAN PEACE NOTE REACHES LONDON. (Rec. December 18, 9.40 p,m.) to. r. -n mil ~ , . London, December 18. lnei berman Teace INote has reached the American Embassy in London. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.