LATE WAR NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1917, Page 4

LATE WAR NEWS

[PER PBESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.] After thu War Trade. German FearLONDON, May 18. The big industrial paper “Rheinisoii Westfaliasche Zeitung” publishes an. article showing the further spread or the scare regarding ajter-tlie-war trade, which started in the German banking press, including the “Berliner Tageblatt,” “Lokal Anzieger,” and “Frankfurter Zeitung.” It seems to be the deliberate intention to prepare the German nation, for the surrender of all political claims, if only peace is obtainable on pre-war trade conditions. The article is especially apprehensive regarding tho effects of the Imperial Conference, which it dreads far more than the Paris Conference.

The article says:—“The establishment of an Imperial Customs Union will be a matter of extreme gravity iur Germany, as it would by its weight draw a number of smaller States into its orbit. This would be intensified a thousand-fold if America joins with a view of defeating German supremacy in trade, and establishing Anglo-Saxon world domination.”

The “Westfallische” article concludes:—“We have shortly to face the most disagreeable facts, and can only gradually repair our pre-war position in the world’s market, but the conditions of peace offers our first opportunity. Unless, however, we succeed iii extorting from England, absolutely unrestricted, the most favoured nation treatment throughout the British Empire; we see our hands forcibly tied in other directions by those who take their political and commercial cue from her. Our foreign, trade must inevitably lag behind that of Powers who are now preparing by drawing closer the bonds uniting them, to conquer us iaii the coming trade war.

Coming of Peace. AMSTERDAM, May 19. General Falkonhayn, interviewed, said the journalists were not the qnVj people at home who are raving about peace. The-soldiers at the front are equaly desirous, but it will come only when a happy future is assured for Germany. No enemy will ever set foot on German soil again. THE HAGUE, May 20. In tho Tages Zeitung, Count Reventlow declares that bofore Easter Dr von Bethmann Hollwegg and Count Czernin (Austrian Premier) outlined a new peace offer to be submitted to tlie Kaiser foi' signature, but the Kaiser snubbed them. Count Reventlow adds: Dr von Bethmann Hollweg and Count Czernin are in complete agreement for peace without annexation. LONDON, May. 19. The “Daily Mail” states that other 'information reveals that the Kaiser qnd militarists lalone prevented' the German Government making new peace proposals.