PEACE OVERTURES.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 15 January 1917, Page 5

PEACE OVERTURES.

HUN OPINION OF ENTENTE'S REPLY. "FULL OF INSOLENT HUMBUG." Received 9.40. AMSTERDAM, Jan. 14. The Rheinischc Westphalische Zcifung has started an agitation for the immediate annexation of Belgium as a rejoinder to the Entente's- reply. It says that President Wilson and the Conservative papers decline to mention peace until a decision is reached on the battlefield. The Liberals believe that neutrals alone will be able to do anything towards peace. Pan-Germans advocate war to the knife by all available means. The Cologne Gazette describes the Allied terms as insolent humbug, and full of the poorest pretexts to excuse political crimes. BERNSTORFF NONPLUSSED. UNDER A CLOUD. WASHINGTON, Jan 14. Bernstorff shows evidences of being nonplussed by the widespread nature of the Allies' demands. He Has ceased conferences with reporters, apparently due to fear of a reprimand by President Wilson, who is known to be most indignant at some of Bernstorff's insinuations under the cloak of anonymity concerning Wilson's assistance to the German peace terms. THE ALLIES' REPLY. (Rcuter). LONDON, Jan 13. Renter authoritatively issues a statement which may be regarded as expressing the views of the Allies on the last German note. It again emphasises that it was Germany who refused a conference in the critical days of July 1914. In reference to Germany's allusions to Ireland and South Africa, it says that whatever past differences there may havo'bceu in connection with these countries, Germany knows to her, cost that they are' how united with the rest >f the Empire'in repelling Germany's aggression. Replying to, the German assertion that our policy is inhumane, the statement asks if Germany was, of the same opinion in 1870, when she starved Pai'iis.

Regarding the attempted defence of overrunning Belgium, the .statement reminus Germany that Hollweg in the Reichstag, stated that the invasion was justified by military necessity. AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN NOTE. AMSTERDAM, Jan. 13. The Anstro-Hungarian Note to neutrals ami the Pope, in reference to the Allies' reply to the Central Powers' [ieace otter, closely follows the German note. It stigmatises as arbitrary and unprovable the Allies' assertion that it was insincere, and declare AustriaHungary would continue to fight, but, before God and man. repudiate responsibility for the continuance of the war. THE KAISER PROCLAIMS. INVOKES GOD'S ASSISTANCE. AMSTERDAM, Jan. 13. The Kaiser, in a proclamation to the German people, says, "Our enemies have dropped the mask after refusing with scowl,, and hypocritical expressions of love and humanity, our honest peace offer, they now, in replying to the United States, admit at last that their objective is conquest. The baseness of this is enhanced by their calumnies. They aim at the crushing of Germany and the enslavement of Europe under the same yoke that Greece, with gnashing teeth i s now enduring." He added: "Our glorious victories and the iron will with which tfie Germans have borne the hardships and distress of this unscrupulous economic war, is a guarantee that our dearly beloved Fatherland, fearing nothing and burning with indignation and holy wrath, will redouble every German's strength and Cod will give us full victory over our enemies' rage and destruction." GERMANY ON VERGE OF FINANCIAL COLLAPSE. PREPARING TO MEET ALLIED OFFENSIVE IN SPRING. Received 11.25. NEW YORK, Jan. 14. Tlie New York Times scathingly denounces the Kaiser's proclamation, and adds that it is time Germany dropped the mask. Their need for peace is extreme, being on the verge of financial collapse, and not far from actual starvation. They will forfeit the last, vestige of neutral goodwill if they do not state their peace terms. Berlin correspondents point out that while Germany is seeking peace she is also preparing to meet what she expects to be a tremendous Allied offensive in the spring. It is believed the German method will be to hold the line in the West while Hindenburg strikes a blow in the East,