GERMANY'S PEACE TERMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 307, 16 September 1918, Page 5

GERMANY'S PEACE TERMS

OUTLINED BY VICE-CHANCELLOR OCCUPIED TERRITORY TO BE RESTORED EXCEPT IN. RUSSIA AND RUMANIA DISARMAMENT OF ARMIES AND NAVIES *, Amsterdam, September 13. Speaking at Stuttgart, tlie Vice-Ohan-cellor, Dr. von Payer, outlined the German peace 1 terras. He declared that Germany could not hand over Poland again to Russia, and would not assist in placing Finland again under the Russian yoke. Germany could not allow the States on tho German frontier and tho Baltic coast to bo ngain subjected, against their will, to Russian 'i'sarism, or thrown into civil war and anarchy. Germany would not submit to the Entente her peaco treaties with the Ukraine, Russia, and Rumania. Apart from this, the territorial possessions existing before the war could everywhere be restored. A preliminary condition for Germany and her Allies was the restoration of nil the territory they possessed as on August 10,1914. Germany must therefore, firstly, reoeivo back her colonies, regarding which the idea of an exchange on the grounds of expediency need not be excluded. Tho Germans, as soon as peace was concluded, could evacuate the occupied regions. They could restore Belgium if Germany and hor Allies again possessed what belonged to them; and if Germany was sure, that in Belgium no other State would he more favourably placed than she,' then Belgium' could be restored without encumbrance and without reserve.. Germany was deeply convinced that, as the innocent and attacked party, she was entitled to indemnification, but the prosecution of the war to that point would cost her such heavy sacrifices, that could not be replaced by money, that she preferred, on calm reflection, and in spite of,her favourable military situation, to abandon this idea, quito apart from the fact that the forcible urging of compensation would inevitably jeopardise future peace. Tho Vice-Chancollor deolared that Germany was ready to collaborate with regard to the League of Nations, arbitration, and disarmament. Germany desired disarmament on the basis of complete reciprocity, applied not merely to armies, but to navies. Germany demanded the freedom of the seas and of. I sea routes, and also'<ui open door in .all oversea possessions, and. tho protection of private property on tho sea.' In the course of his speech, t Dr. von Payer said: "Wo laugh at the idea that we should penitently ask for mercy before we are admitted to peace tioiis. Wo laugh at the fools who babble about revenge. Peace by understanding will bring nothing: humiliating for us, nor a period of misery andl wretchedness. . "It .would be an illusion to calculate on the will to peace in those circles among our enemies which are responsible for the opening and continuation of the hostilities. They cannot admit to their countrymen that their aims are unattainable and their sacrifices in vain, but others among those peoples will think differently. Moreover, those others will prevail, soon or late. "Until then there remains for us nothing but to defend, our lives."— Router.