PEACE MOVEMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, 26 October 1917, Page 5

PEACE MOVEMENT.

GERMANY'S PEACE PROPOSALS. LONDON, Oct 25. The Daily Telegraph's Milan correspondent, gives the following details of the German peace proposals, which were largely the cause of M. Ribot's resignation, as the Socialists allege M. Ribot should have made the proposals public. The German proposal was to restore B'elgium and cede Al-sace-Lorraine in exchange for compensation in Russia. The proposal was made to M. Briand by an ited Belgian diplomat from Switzerland. Von Buelow had nothing to do with the proposal, which came direct from the German Government through the regular diplomatic channel. M. ( Briand immediately made it a condition that all the Allies must be informed 'before a reply was given. Mr Balfour was the first Minister to be> informed, and he thought the proposal unacceptable. He conferred with his colleagues, and they agreed. The Italian Government' gave a similar negative reply ■ .•■ All the "Allied Governments answered with a full knowledge of the matter. The pourparlers lasted a month ending on October Ist. Germany was most anxious to have the proposal accepted, but IT was unacceptable, not only because it implied the annexation of huge slices of Russia, but also contemplated no concessions to Italy, Serbia and Rbumania, and no disavowal of German militarism. Germany's offer of financial aid to Belgium was coupled with demands for privileges at Antwerp and military concessions. The acceptance of the proposal would have been a huge triumph for German militarism.

THE NATION'S THANKS. LONDON, Oct 24. In , the. House of Commons, Mr Lloyd. George gave notice to move on Monday a resolution of thanks to the Navy; the. British and overseas troops; the medical and other services; also the mercantile marine, and various war workers including women; and expressing sympathy with the relatives of the fallen.