DISTRESS SIGNALS HOISTED

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 11, 8 October 1918, Page 5

DISTRESS SIGNALS HOISTED

PEACE OFFERS FROM THE CENTRAL POWERS >• KAISER ISSUES A PROCLAMATION By Telegraph-Press Aesociatton-OopyrielK ■ T , r . . . L . , New York, October 6. ins Jiaiser, in a proclamation to.the German Army and Navy, stated that he had decided to offer peace to the Allies upon liberal tenns.-Aus.-N Z ■ table Assn.. . .' ■ i FURTHER DETAILS •■'■.::■■;■. (Rec. October 7, 11.50 p.m.) ■ , „,, „'.'', , London, October 6. ft. rt proclamation to the Army and Nary affirms that the West front will not be broken,but he points-to the collapse on the Macedonian front occurring at the moment when the struggle was hardest. He then states that he is in.accord with his allies and resolved once more to offer an honourable peace. "Whether our arras -wijl be lowered is still the,question, but till then our efforts must not slacken."—Reuter. 4 ' POINTS OF THE PEACE PROGRAMME , Prince Maximilian will announce in the Reichstag That iwSyfavours: 1, .-The restoration of Belgium by an international fund. IItS: it ****»**«* b >' • general congress. ■ 4. No indemnity for France. ' 5., Germany to retain Alsace. 6. Return of the German colonies. 7. Partial and progressive disarmament. • —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. . . . NEW CHANCELLOR'S PEACE SPEECH 'ACCEPTS PROGRAMME OF MAJORITY PARTIES. 'imJ&w 1 ? Vf* t ■•«?»*»» 4 n th °Reichst"g S on ( 'S«nlS lb b byey \n--2S?SJ? \V. s /nt a N»te to President Wilson acceptin ß the proSatt™ iSclSes? 0 y ' WhlOh, aCCOrdillg t0 the "Bwliner Tage1. Adhesion to the Reichstag's p eace resolution of July, 1917 ■i. (lengany s willingness to enter a .League of Nations, with compulsory disarmament, and the freedom of the seas. 74 • Btor * tlon of Belgium, with indemnities. 18 * ** ™ * PeaM " the Baliic pr °- 5. The establishment of Alsace-Lorraine as an ' independent Federal • • '• Tinification 6f the Imperial Government by the anoointmenf of sioii of all military institutions exercising political power peace proposals V addition to constitut3? lti[rf o m " in P r us S il^' Zf gramme demanded the abolition of military instftut™ s wl,lh 3 xerc se ,?olt t.cal influence, programme particularly desired that wLature should Note to tho Presided of the United States C,,r f ctcd V" 1 sa!Ss^ ta *JtxS r ' rf J l£s ' B '? iS which wo can accept fit basis for me T , j° r . * &™.™ 1 1 P only to release Germamy and her alHef ft for the sake ofll i'lf-f i,"f for four years hae beeni suffering undo ■' ft o \Zr • beSl T S"Sf , for the future happiness of the peoples "fc forth bv w-i ldeM in accordance with the views of the vaßt' m l£ J]J r™ Wlls , on, T earlier speeches prove tiat I have not dXd mn h t T? ?J y ChancellLhip ? I s for an t SSm rt>rSr. peace of right and 'reconciliation for «5 „ wdl ■» f«r Whatever might bo the result of the step the Governmpnt ™ «»t"Ron, S ts. many would be found firmly'resolved a,ul „ animous oTtW 5 ,, t!1k,1 6?'-of-a reasonable peace or a final life-an -SiSf^tl e r ,M T would participate, thronrfi no fault of theTr own 8 ' l th ° peol,l ° Affl The Reichstag adjourned till the middle of the ffeek.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable THTE AUSTRIAN NOTE RECEIVED BY SWEDEN. October 7, 8.20 p.m.) Rnr«£t A U fi P r e W!? J} 16 F nited States have freceiveVat the offetusn ljegatlan.—Ans.-N.Z4 C a ' ) ' e esn -

A DISH OP HUMBLE PIE. (Rec. October 7, 8.20 p.m.) „.-... v , _ „ ~ Berne, October 6. The Austrian Note to President Wilson says that 'Austria-Hungary lias never waged_ anything but a defensive war, and on many occasions lias shown a desire to end the shedding of blood and conclude" an honourable peace. Austria hereby proposes to conclude with America and the Allies a general armistice, and engage in negotiations based on President Wilson's fourteen ..points of January 8, and the four points of his speech on February 12. The Note also takes in President Wilson's declarations of September 27.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. l THE REICHSTAG RESOLUTION Tho resolution adopted by the Reichstag is as follows:— "Just as. on August 4, 1914, so on the threshhold of the fourth year of war, tlie words of the Speech from the Throne, 'no desire (for conquest impels us, , are valid for the German people. Germany assumed arms for tho defence of her 'freedom and independence 1 , and for her territorial possessions. The Reiohstag strives for a peace by 'agreement, , and for a permanent reconciliation of the nations. "The forcible acquisition of territory and' political, economic, or financial usurpation aro incompatible with such a peace. The Reichstag rejects all plans which strive tor economic exclusion and animosities between peoples after the war, and the freedom of the seas must be assured. Economic peace alone will render possible a friendly community of life among the nations. The Reichstag will energetically promote the organisation of international law. "So long, however, aa the hostile Governments do not accept such a peace; so lons as Germany and her allies are threatened with conquests and usurpation, the German people will stand together as one man, endure and fight until its right, and 1 the right of its allies, its life and its development are assured. The Reichstag knows that in. this proclamation it is at one with the men who in heroic conflict defend the Fatherland. Imperishable gratitude is assured them." PRESIDENT WILSON'S FOURTEEN POINTS The "fourteen points" laid down by President Wilson are:— (1) Peace compacts to be openly arrived at; diplomacy shall proceed publicly. (2) Freedom of navigation, outside territorial waters, alike in peace or war, except when necessary. (3) The removal, as far as possible, of all economic barriers. (4) Guarantees to be given that arm aments will be reduced to the lowest point. (5) An impartial adjustment of all colonial olaims, bearing in mind that the interests of the population s concerned must have equal weight with the demands of the claimant Government. (6) The evacuation of all Russian territory. (1) Belgium must be evacuated and restored. (8) All French territory should be freed and the invaded portions restored, and the wrong done to France in the matter of Alsace-Lorraine righted. (9) A readjustment of frontiers of Italy along lines of nationality. (10) Opportunity for autonomous development for the people of AustriaHungary. (11) Restoration of Rumania, Serbia, and 1 Montenegro and the relations of the Balkan States to be determined by friendly council. (12) The Dardanelles should be permanently opened, under international guarantees; nationnlities under Turkish rule should be given opportunity for autonomous development. (13) An independent Polish State should be created. (14) An association of nations must bo formed to afford guarantees of poli- . ticnl independence and territorial integrity to great and small States alike. PUBLIC OPINION INTENSE INTEREST IN LONDON s (Rec. October 7, 7.40 p.m.) ■ _ t > _ London, October 6. Intense interest was shown in London an Prince Max's speeok The text arrived too late for newspaper comment. The first impression is that the proposals fall far short of the necessities of the case, though tho tone is vastly more subdued than the earlier speeches.' It is evident that the real aims of the proposals are the preservation d the I!chenzollerns and the division of the Allies by appearing to accept President Wilson's programme.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesn. NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY IN FRANCE ''MERELY A SIGN OF DISTRESS. (Rec. October 7, 8.20 p.m.) Paris, October 6. The peace move is not accepted seriously, save as a sign of distress. It is semi-ofh'cially stated that Germany is endeavouring to prevent the defection of Turkey, and to placate Austria- Hungary and avoid at any cost the invasion of Germany, fearing reprisals for the Franco-Belgian outrages.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. THE NEWS IN AMERICA MERELY. ANOTHER PEACE DRIVE'. New York, October 6. The Washington correspondent of the New York "Times" says that the Austrian proposal for peace negotiations has not been received by the Stato Department. Mr. Lansing (Secretary of_ State) and other officials have declined to comment upon it until the official matter is received. No enthusiasm is manifested by American or Allied officials over Austria's action, which is considered to be merely a continuance of the Teutonic peace drive. The correspondent says that the attitude of the officials towards Prince Maximilian's peace speech in the Reichstag is the same as towards the Austrian move.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

GERMAN PRESS COMMENT. London, October 6. The "Frankfurter Zeitung" foreshadows Austria's acceptance of all President Wilson's teras.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE DENIES MEDIATION (Rec. October 1, 7.40 p.m.) The Hague A October 6. Tile Dutch Foreign Office denies that it has taken eteps towards mediation and peace.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AUSTRIAN PREMIER RESIGNS (Rec. October 7, 7.40 p.m.) Berne, October G. The Hussarek Cabinet has resigned. The appointment of a pacifist and democratic Cabinet is expected. The move is designed with the German concurrence to influence the Entente Powers.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. . RUSSIANS DENOUNCE BREST LITOVSK TREATY London, October 6. It is officially announced that the Russian Government in Moscow has denounced the Brest Litovsk treaty owing to Turkish occupation of Baku.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMANY ON THE STARVATION LINE .FOUR CAMPS FULL OF INTERNED MUTINOUS SOLDIERS. (Rec. October 8, 1.25 a.m.) London, October 6. "The Time's" Hague correspondent states that wounded exchanged British officers agree that Germany is on the starvation line. Four camps near Berlin are filled with soldiers who have beon interned for refusing to go to the front. Almost all Germans conversing with the British declared that they were resolved to emigrate, especially to England, after the war, as Germany would be unable to support her population owing to the heavy taxation and industrial depression.—"The Tinios."