PEACE OVERTURES.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 October 1918, Page 2

PEACE OVERTURES.

fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ABSOLUTION]

GERMAN PRESS.

(Ouited Service Telegrams).

LONDON, Oct. 22. tile tone of the German press indicates that the militarists have regained control for the time being. Captain Pei sms in the “Tageblatt” forecasts an early great expansion of snbmarinism. t ount Rerentlow demands the retention of Alsace-Lorraine, the sacrifice «hereof would be incomparable and without honour.

orwaerts” says Germany is only arranging the signal to stop peace negotiations, attempt to overthrow the Government and establish a dictatorship to continue the war to the uttermost.

THE KAISER’S CROSS. . ... AMSTERDAM, Oct. 22. -Ua.Niniilian Harden addressing greet mgs to several thousand in Berlin declared the Kaiser must shoulder the cross of seeking peace based on an enemy military superiority, and must lereafter lie shorn of despotic powers.

FRENCH OPINION. n . PARIS, Oct. 22. J arliamentarv circles and the press regard the German replv as wilfully equivocal and tortuous, especially as regards an armistice. They do not consider the pretended constitutional reforms afford a guarantee of duration.

BRITISH VIEWS. LONDON, October 22. Hie British Press regards Germany’s i ep]y as designed to give her time to better her military position. The general impression is that the reply is utterly unsatisfactory and amounts to a mere quibble. It fails also to recogniso Germany’s military defeat. Navy opinion favours a demand for the surrender of ajj U-boats prior to the armistice.

The “Westminster Gazette’ interprets the Note as asking that the present military position should be accepted as the limit to tli 0 Allies’ victory and as the basis of peace. It adds that this basis for peace is wholly unacceptable -

The “Pall Mall” Gazette says that - while the, country admires President M ilson’s skill in turning the enemy’s tricks against themselves, it does not lose sights of the fact that force alone is the true guarantee of all we are fighting for. A point has been reached 1 where it is hoped that Mr Lloyd George will sum up tho position for tile country’s benefit. Britain will naturally claim the leading voice’in the naval terms of settlement, in the disposal of Germany’s colonies and iii regard to repartion foe outrages In the mercantile marine •

WHEN WILSON REPLIES. WASHINGTON, Oct. 22. President Wilson is not expected to answer the German Note until twentyfour hours have elapsed.

FRENCH CRITICISM. PARIS, Oct. 22. The Premier. M. Clemeneeau’s paper “L’Honime Libre’.’ says the German reply is “an evil scrap of paper, impregnated with lying and hypocracy.”

AMERICAN VIEWS.

SURRENDER INSISTED UPON

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22,

Senator Lodge, in a statement, says: “Germany’s latest Note is a clumsy trap, merely meant to involve the United States. The Note is varnished over’ with falsest flattery. It is inconceivable that anyone will be taken in by it. The only answer ought to be that Germany must surrender unconditionally.

Senator Poindexter has introduced a resolution to Congress to forbid any negotiations whatever with Germany till she surrenders unconditionally, and calling for vigorous prosecution of the war. The resolution lias been referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Mr. Taft says: “We are no nearer peace. Germany over-night as it were, adopted popular Government, but have the Hohenzollerns surrendered? W T e hope an answer will be sent closing the useless negotiations.’ Unofficial comment on the German answer points out two things are clear, namely; the Note sent is entirely and absolutely unsatisfactory. Furthermore, the Note comes from the present German Government, with which the United States refused to deal. It is thought the tone of the Note is evasive.

The press of New York and other cities generally consider that Germany knows she is beaten, but is unwilling to surrender at the present stage.