PEACE PRINCIPLES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 10, 6 October 1917, Page 7

PEACE PRINCIPLES

AUSTRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER'S VIEWS {

"ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION i OF NATIONS" ■ I

Amsterdam, October i. Count C'zernin (Austrian Foreign Minister), in a speech at Budapest', advocated an international basis of right, ensuring' that no war of revenge shall be possible' in future, or the military burden after the- war would he almost unbearable for all. The European Slates must go fur-' trier than merely return to their prewar armaments. They must eventually' reach total disarmaments. Gigantic fleets would ba unnecessary if Ihe na-' tions would combine to guarantee the liberty of the seas. ' ' The" first principles which must be fixed at the conclusion of peace .ire compulsory arbitration, general- "-disarmament, and tho liberty of the high seas,' with special rules for the narrow waters. If these principles were fixed tho need' of territorial securities would be automatically abolished. Another principle" needed was that of economic co-operation of all nations, and the absolute avoid-: ance of economic war. "We must, before concluding peace," he said, "have a positive assurance that our adversaries: liave abandoned their ideas of warfare. I disagree with Mr. Lloyd George at most points, but I agree that tKere must not be any more wars; of revenge." , \ Count C'zernin asked whether the Entente proposed to indemnify the damage done in the territories of the Central Powers and German colonies, and concluded: "Nobody should imagine that our present moderate peace programme will liold good for ever. Tf our enemies compel us to continue the war, we wiil be obliged to revise the programme. I confess I am not ootiimstic about the readiness of the Entente to conclude peace on the basis I have just outlined." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE CENTRAL POWERS' NOTES CONCRETE OFFER- EXPECTED. Rome, October 4. The "Giornale d'ltalia" declares that the Popo has transmitted the official text of the Central Powers' Notes to the Entente, and has added to the second-Note, saying Iliat Germany is disposed to evacuate Belgium nnd Northern France; and he asks Hip Entente Powers if they desire a reply. Tt is believed that the. ne.it communication from the Central Powers will afford a concrete offer.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. . '