PEACE MOVEMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, 9 January 1918, Page 5

PEACE MOVEMENT.

German Peace Proposals

ATTEMPT TO BLUFF ALLIES,

LONDON, Dec 30.

The “Westminster Gazette” gsys:

“The Kaiser’s Christmas war cry was still ringing when the proposals for peace were launched. The Germans do not serve God for nothing. The object is evidently to drive a wedge between the Russians and the Allies, and to brand the latter as Imperialists. This scheme tVill He best met by an honest statement that the old dynastic systems and frontiers and rivalries will be unacceptable to the Allies, as well as peace without repaiation and security.” High authorities and the newspapers agree that the proposas of the Central Powers are designed to manoeuvre the Allies Into the position of aggressive Imperialists, thus splitting the Allied public opinion. The “Daily News” says: “The defects in the proposals are self-evident. We cannot return the colonies to a rule that has uniformly proved a bane to the inhabitants.” The “Manchester Guardian” writes: “Germany is endeavouring to convince Russia and a section of the Allied publics that she is the real friend of liberty and democracy, Her proposals represent an attempt by Germany to cut her losses, but there is no sign ’of the repudiation of militarism.” - FEAR OF BOLSHEVIK INFECTION. The “Daily Express” and other newspapers think that Germany does not wish for a separate peace with Russia, as she fears Bolshevik infection, and prefers to garrison parts of Russia, whilst paying special attention to the west front, hoping that her proposals will weaken the war , spirit of the Allies, and mike them easier military victims. The '‘Manchester Guardian’s” London correspondent, on the contrary, states that it is definitely known that Germany wants a general peace, and is anxious about the influence of the Bolsheviks on her suffering working-classes. If she elaborated her terms, and promised to indemnify Belgium, the attitude of v. liberal Parliament would be profoundly influenced. The best guarantee of her earnestness would be the immediate evacuation of the territories which, at least, the British Army is prepared to permit without hindrance. UNEASY PRESS. The German Press, which was recently sceptical, pointing out the weakness of the Bolshevik authority, is now obediently exaggerating the results of the negotiations, and claims that the Russian delegates are convinced of the sincerity of the Central Powers. The “Berliner Tageblatt” describes the Allies as real Chauvinists, and declares that the open diplomacy of B'rest Litovsk will contribute largely to shake their wall of arms. “Vorwaerts” says:—“Once again the peace portal is wide open to all belligerents, but Germany must reduce the Russian abstractions, and establish more concrete points, safeguarding German interests.” The Bolshevik Press shows some uneasiness and disappointment. The “Pravda” says that the Central Powers’ refusal to deal with the self-determination of national groups means that the countries concerned arc afraid to examine the facts. A KRUPP DREAM. Reuter’s correspondent at Amsterdam, commenting on the peace reply of the Central Powers to Russia, the “Rhcnisch Westfaeliscbe Zeitung,” Krupp’s organ, admits, with refreshing candour, that Germany’s concession as regards no annexations is fortunately dependent upon the Entente’s immediate acceptance of the same principle, as this will destroy British supremacy from the Cape to Cairo, and via Arabia, Mesopotamia, and Persia, to Calcutta. Furthermore, it declares that the German evacuation of Belgium is conditional on the British evacuation of Egypt, and adds; “The abandonment of Egypt, Arabia, and Mesopotamia spells the collapse of British worlddominion,” i

GERMANY ENDS NEGOTIATIONS. BECAUSE ALLIES DID NOT PARTICIPATE. NEW YORK, January 7. The United Press Association’s Amsterdam correspondent states that Germany has notified the Russians that the peace negotiations have ended because the Allies did not participate in the Congress.