LATEST PEACE MOVE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 38, 8 November 1917, Page 5

LATEST PEACE MOVE

MOTION IN BRITISH PARLIAMENT

SECRET FRANCO-RUSSIAN TREATY

(Rec. November 7, 7.15 p.m.)

London, November 6. During tho debate in tho House o£ Commons on tho Consolidated Fund Bill, Mr. Lees Smith moved;— ■: That, provided satisfactory guaran- i toes be obtained regarding the inde- ■ pendenco and restoration o£ Belgium and tho evacuation of other occupied territory, no obstacle should bo : placed in tho way of preliminary pcaco negotiations, which might embody an cquitablo settlement of the Alsace-Lorraine question and provide ; machinery for tho avoidanco of future ; wars. ; The mover declared that a secret agreement had been aimed at between Fiance i and Russia to the effect that in the event of the Allies being victorious, Germany, in addition to Alsace and Lorraine, would lose great tracts of territory on the we6fc ; bank of the Bhinc, and tho whole of tho ' Saar Valley. | Mr. Balfour interposed: "Britain en- j tered into no such agreement. These statements relate to an agreement be- ' i tween France and the ex-Tear.' Mr. Robert Lambert (Liberal), referring to tho League of Nations, declared that we must welcome Germany into it. (Cries of "Never!" "Remember the Lusitnnia!") Mr. J. Ramsay. Mac Donald (Labour) : wished to adopt (he Russian formula of no annexations, no indemnities. He said ' thnt the country should clearly etate ite war aims and make these aims real. ; Mr. Balfour's Reply. Sir. A. J. Balfour Eaid that these discussions did not assist the Government in its object of obtaining an honourable peace. Tho supporters of tho motion ap- ■ peared to desire that peace should not : take place' until all Europe had been ; democratised according to Mr. Ramsay ; Mac Donald's pattern. Nothing woiild : unite Germany more ngainst her enemies than tho idea that these enemies desiretW to force upon her, not tho form of government 6no desired, but tho form hoi , enemies happened to admire. Mr. Balfour characterised the alleged secret' treaty for handing over parts of Gerniany to France, or somo independent com- ; munity, as a "mare's nest." No such < treaty existed. "Wβ are fighting in order that Europe might be freed from German i militarism. Germany has declined to : state her war aims in replying either to ' tho Popo'e Noto or to President 'Wilson." J Ho condemned the misrepresentation in .'■ the House of the Government's official statements. , »*: Mr. Asquith combated the view that if ; tho Alsace question were out of the way ; or settled separately, other var aims , were within reach of attainment. This , was a complete fallacy. - Mr. Bonar Law moved the closure, j which was carried by 282 to 23. . , ! Mr. Lees Smith's motion was negatived _;u,«,,i- jiei'einn— Krm.fi.7,. Cable Assn. i

VON HERTLING'S MAIDEN SPEECH FORECASTED

PROPOSALS FOR EARLY CONFERENCE Amsterdam, November 6. The wildest rumours of early peace aro circulating in Berlin. It is 6Wted that Count von Hortling's maidon speech in the Reichstag on November 22 will contain a proposal for holding a preparatory peace conference at Berne, to which each belligerent will send two delegates. Tho "Vossiecho Zoitung" snys:—"Now> is tho time for Germany to offer an easy peace to Russia and Italy. They must see that England is unable to help them, and that; only tho Central Powers ran solvo 1 heir food difficulties."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

POLITICAL GERMANY

EVOLUTION OP DEMOCRACY. New York, November 6. Herr Earberger (Leader of the Centrt Party) announces that Germany has illready changed from an autocracy into a democracy.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.