ALLIES' REPLY TO GERMAN PEACE NOTE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2964, 30 December 1916, Page 7

ALLIES' REPLY TO GERMAN PEACE NOTE

i , ■ 'LENGTHY DOCUMENT ';>'. ■'■'■'■:■')' ~ ~~ r , ■' ENTENTE. WILL NOT SURRENDER POTENTIAL VICTORY FOR AN INSECURE PEACE :'■••• (By..Tclegraph-rPiress. Association— Copyright). . • i - .; ' ; London, December 28. The "Daily Telegraph" states that the Allies' reply to the German Note has been drawn up. Itwas originally drafted in Paris. All .-the'. Allies have approved of-it, but there has been' a few days', delay owing to alterations. It is expected that it will shortly be sent to. the Central Powers' through' President AVilson. ; .\ : '■. ' ' .'.'''"''■'.. , v 'j. '■■'■■'■ >■■■■ y.-Tne .reply'makes- it'clear to'belligerents arid neutrals-that it is hopeless to persuade-thq Allies to surrender victory .for. a peace." which.will only'be: a'German peace so long as' Germany's.military power is/unbroken.. •■ •' It is' a :lengthy Note, and 'sets'' out in plain ,-words.' why the. Allies, are' fighting: _It points-out that a* permanent termination of Germany's regime of oppression is only possible by guarantees different.from past paper guarantee's. '•''•' , .'...'.• ' r A second Note, replying to.President..Wilson's, proposals, is in course of preparation; If will emphasise the importance' of the destruction of the economic ascendancy which Germany has sought to force .'upon" Europe, America,-and'the world.—Aus.-N.-Z. Cable-Assn-. " ..:-' ■ ', .'■"'■ London, December 28. The Manchester "Guardian" states-.tliatia. second American Note has' been received in London, explaining the' first. .' The terms are not disclosed, hut the Note "does not alter the attitude of ■ the Allies.—Aus:-N.Z. Cable Assn. ':'■•■' .-.-■■

STIRRING. MESSAGE FROM THE TSAR TO HIS ARMY ' .' : AND-'NAVYv ; -''i::-' ... London, December 28. A wireless official message from. Petrograd states Tsar,- in his Order of the. Day to his Army and Navy, eays: "It is upwards of two years since Germany, in, the midst of peace. • after long and secretly preparing to enslave all tho : nations of' Europe, suddenly, attacked-. Russia"'and-.her "faithful Ally,-France; compelling England to-join us-.. Her. complete disdain of in-" ternational law was demonstrated in the violation of Belgium and. the pitiless cruelty to-the peaceful inhabitants-of-the. occupied, provinces.- Gradually this united the great' Powers against'Austro-Germariy." ' Under-the pressure of -the Germans who were well provided with technical, aids to-warfare, Russia" and" France were compelled, .in 1914, : to give up ■a • portion of their •- territory, but the temporary" reverse d.iid not. break .the.; spirit of the-Allies. "_, "VThe concentrated efforts of the Government have gradually reduced thoinequalities',between the Russian and German technical resources, while even 'from* the autumn of 1915 the enemy has been experiencing difficulty in retain-, irig a.single portion of Russian soil, and in'tho spring'and summer of 191G he .suffered a, number of severe, defeats ;• and ; assumed the defensive on tho whole'front., 'His- strength is apparently waning, but the strength of Russia and her''gallant Allies continues to 'grow.'- ■ Germany . is; aware that the lioiir jpf complete : defeat and retribution is near, arid offers to enter into peace negotiations, hoping to .complete them before ! her military latent is exhausted. But the Allies,' including almighty England, and noble'ltaly, are so : strong that they are able to choosq their own-time to make peace. The time has not'yet arrived, the enemy lias not yet been ejected from the occupied provinces, which is Russia's task, and the : regaining of Constantinople and the Dardanelles; and creating a free Poland has-not yet been accomplished. To conclude peace now would mean'failure to utilise the fruits of Rusisa's untold "trials. '■_ ' Who dares to- think that the precipitator of the war.can have it.in his power to conclude the war whenever ho chooses? I have no doubt that every faithful son of holy Russia in the' firing-line, or of England is.convinced that peace is-only possible when the enemy is finally broken, gives reliable proof of tho impossibility .of a repetition of a treacherous attack, firm assurance to keep his promises, and is bound by the strength ';of guarantees to fulfil his peace-time obligations-thus undertaken. Let;us.be firm in-the certainty of victory, and tho All-Highest-bless our standards, cover them afresh with glory, and the-.final peace will-be' worthy of your'heroism.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.---; SUR.RENDER 'THE ONLY CHANCE OF . ~-■ -■ ' • . PEACE. .- --Y-• '-'".- '." - ■'.'.■" : London, "December 28. The "Morning Post's" Petrograd correspondent says:—"Russia's; reply to Germany was formulated in agreement with the Allies. It is understood here that-the reply substantially informs Germany that her only chance of peace is unconditional surrender."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. '".. CENTRAL POWERS REPLY TO SWITZERLAND'S j&OTE. .'• •„ .. .- ~ .. , . ~ Amsterdam, December 28. ..Germany and Austria, have replied to Switzerland in similar terms as to America. .' • .-■ Turkey's reply to tho American Note is similar to that of the Central Powers. —Aus.rN.Z. Cable Assn. . . PREVENTION OF WARS IN THE FUTURE '■ ■ i . ■•'■-.■ (Rec'December 29, 8.50 p.m.) '■"'_■■■■ Washington, December 29. The text of the Austrian reply to President Wilson's Note differs slightly,, from tho reply originally issued. The text embodies tho following paragraph :' "Tho Austrian Government concurs in tho opinion of the President that only after the termination of tho present war will it be possible to undertake the great and desirable work of prevention of further wars. At tho appropriate time Austria will be ready to co-operate in the realisation of this noble aim." ■ - The German text contains the following paragraph: "It is the view of the Imperial Government that the great work of prevention of future wars can be taken up only after the ending of the present conflict of exhaus-tion."—-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. •> • .- INSPIRED STATEMENT BY GERMAN EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON (Rec. December 29,11.40 p.m.) Washington, December 29. The German Embassy, in an inspired statement, says: "If the Entente considers that guarantees for the future are essential, thero might be. some declaration of principles to which Germany would be willing to subscribe, leaving tho details for settlement at a conference."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

GERMANY PREPARED TO MAKE HUGE CONCESSIONS. Now York, December 28. The New- York "World's" Washington correspondent understands that Germany is prepared to abandon her demand for the independence of Poland and Lithuania, and agree to evacuate Russia, Belgium, and France, restore occupied territory, and pay an indemnity to Belgium. Sho will admit that the invasion of Belgium was' illegal, but unavoidable owing to military necessity.-' ■ - ■ Germany will demand tho territorial integrity of. Germany's allies and the restoration of the German colonies.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ■ 'DARDANELLES QUESTION CAN BE SOLVED SATISFACTORY • ILY. „ Amsterdam, December 28. The German journal "Vossische Zeitung" remarks: "We believe the ! question of tho Dardanelles can bo solved satisfactorily for Russia without continuing the fighting."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. . ALL STEPS TOWARDS A CONFERENCE PREMATURE. (Rec. December 29 5.50 p.m.) „ ' ■■'■.. ' Rome, December 28. The Swedish Legation denies Sweden's adhesion to the American and Swiss Peace Notes, and adds: "After the Entente Ministers' speeches and the Tsar's manifesto, all steps towards a conference would be premature."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FRENCH SOCIALISTS ON THE GERMAN PEACE NOTE. ,„. o •i- w ' ' ■ i , • Paris ' December 28. the bociahst Congress passed a resolution that Germany's Noto does not'constitute a genuine peace proposal, as it docs not contain terms. The Congress asks the-Allies to reply that they desired peace, 'but accepted war courageously. They were ready for a peace that provided for reparation, tho ending of the injustices of militarism, and the establishing of a League of I'reo Nations.—Aus.-N.Z. Cabje Assn. THE NOTORIOUS M. CAILLAUX AS PEACE AMBASSADOR. (Rec. December 29, 11.40 p.m.) i ~ , . Rome, December 29. M. Caillaux recently visited Rome, and it is believed he came as a peaco missionary, stating that Germany was prepared to treat France liberally and grant Italy almost the whole of her ambitions at Austria's expense, Germany recouping her own war sacrifices in the East and the Balkans. . M. Caillaux met with several rebuffs, including one from the Vatican, where he failed to obtain a Papal audience. '"',-, . It isreported that the Italian Government were on the point of requestnig M. Caillaux to depart, but he had already started. • It is supposed that M. Caillaux represents certain international finan-ciers.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. [M. Caillaux is an ex-Premier of France, and came into world-wide prominence owing to the sensational murder of 11. Gaston Calmette, editor of tho "Figaro," by Madame Caillaux on March 16, 1914. The murder created a great sensation in Paris. Hundreds of students assembled at the "Figaro" office and shouted, "Down with Caillaux the robber." The journal "Eclair" stated that M. Caillaux', when Minister of Finance, wrecked the syndicate scheme for Morocco arranged between M. Briand and the German Government". The result was the Agadir coup and the cession of a large tract/of the Congo to Germany. .M. Calmette, when lie was murdered, was seeking for evidence of M. Caillaux's connection with the case of Pribu, the South American millionaire, whose heirs were claiming an estate from the French Government. The story published, was that M. Caillaux informed the heirs that ho would get them £200,'000 from the Government, but they were to 'give-him a quid '.pro quo.. The trial of Madame'Caillaux was in' progress when war was declared.] • ■'' PEACE DEMONSTRATIONS IN AUSTRIA. '.';.,'. Geneva, December 28._ There were Christinas Day peace demonstrations throughout Austria., Prominent Socialists addressed!great gatherings in Vienna. The police did not interfere.—"The Times." .' LAMENTABLE MISERY OF THE WORKING CLASSES. (Rec. December 29, 5.30 p.m.) i. ~ Geneva, December 28. The misery iof the working'classes in-Austria is lamentable. There : have been hundreds of suicides since tho beginning of ! November. Peace demonstrations take place daily in tho cities.. —Router. REPORTED THAT AUSTRIA IS UNWILLING TO DESERT GERMANY. ,--■'■ : London, December 28. Tho "Daily News" correspondent at Geneva states that a party of Austrian diplomatists has arrived there. '.-.'". It is believed that Austria, though unwilling to desert Germany, is prepared to negotiate direct with England and France. Her idea is that as Austria-and England.Urid France have not yet met in. actual hostilities they might'"dis"cuss evacuation questions at a full conference of belligerents, prefer.ably. in Geneva.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. .',.... \ • EXTINCTION OF THE GERMAN FLEET SUGGESTED. Christchurch, December 29. Speaking at Parficld to-night, the Hon. G. AV. Russell, referring, to the . Imperial Conference, said.that personally he felt that no peace would be satisfactory to the Dominion "which did not include the extinction of the German fleet," and their Ministers and representatives in England should make this, one.of their strongest points, for if they did not New Zealand could reconcile herself to the expenditure'of two or. three millions annually in preparing for the next war with Germany and her fleet. —Press Assn. ■.'■...