LUDENDORFF SENDS ULTIMATUM.

Taihape Daily Times, 9 January 1918, Page 5

LUDENDORFF SENDS ULTIMATUM.

TO GERMAN GOVERNMENT.

PARIS, January 7.

Reports from Zurich state that General von Ludcndorff, von Hindenburg’s Chief-of-Stalf, sent an ultimatum to the German Government on the peace conditions to be imposed on Russia. After long deliberation and the intervention of the Kaiser, Ludcndorll withdrew his resignation having gained his own way.

It is alleged that divergencies have arisen regarding the effort Germany intends shortly to make on the French front.

M. Trotsky and the Russian delegates hurried to Brest Litovsk and are now discussing the situation with the Austro-Germans, following on the latter’s refusal to transfer negotiations to Stockholm. The “Matin” says that Baron von Kuhlmann, German Foreign Minister recently told the Russians that what the Russians really wanted was peace at any price. Trotzky told the Soviet Committee two days ago that the Russians ( would be able to come to an understanding only with Licbknecht, the German Socialist leader. The Paris “Matin’s” Geneva correspondent says that according to official reports Petrograd is on the eve of a catastrophe in the matter of foodstuffs and also that the Germans arc concentrating strong contingents' on the Russian south-western front. The Paris “Journal’s” war correspondent estimates that 75,000 Germans from the Russian front have arrived on the West front.

Amsterdam advices report that a message from Brest Litovsk was sent on Saturday night to Petrograd, reminding the Russian peace delegates that the ten days fixed in which the other belligerents must decide to participate in the negotiations expired on January 4, and that they had not yet made signs of compliance. The message was signed by Baron von Kuhlmann, Count Czernin, M. Popoff, and Kassim Bey. WORLD PPEACE PROGRAMME, AMERICA’S ATTITUDE. Received 8.35. WASHINGTON, Jan. S. Addressing Congress, President Wilson outlined q definite world peace programme on the basis laid down by Lloyd George. AMERICA'S DETAILED PEACE AIMS. ’ Received 9.30. WASHINGTON, Jan 8. President Wilson recommended that peace terms should include absolute freedom of bbe seas, disarmament, self-determination by nations of their future affinities, international free trade; he also insisted on the evacuation and restoration of Belgium, Roumania, Serbia and France; evacuation of Russian territory now under Teuton occupation, and re-adjustment of Italy’s lines of nationality. The world peace must be based on diplomacy free from secrecy. America had the fullest goodwill towards Russia. The wrong done in Alsace-Lor-raine must be righted. Plebiscites should decide the future of the German colonies, and Austria-Hungary should have the opportunity for autonomous development.

A SPLIT BETWEEN THE PANGERMANS.

AMSTERDAM, Jan 7. A split between the Pan-German annexationists and the more moderate elements in Germany over the Brest Litovsk negotiations is evident by the violent attack on Dr. Kuhlmann by the “Rhenschc WestßteTische : Zeitung,’ ’to whose conduct of the negotiations it attributes Ludendorff’s threat to resign. The journal doubts whether the army command can longer remain with Kuhliriann. It declares : that “Renunciations in the East” is | Kuhlmann’s watchword, and “Renun- | ciation in the West” will follow. Germans must now choose between Hindenburg and Ludendorff, or Kuh!mann and Hertling. KUHLMANN’S OVERTHROW DESIRED. » AMSTERDAM, Jan 7. Pan-Germans are actively seeking Kuhlmann’s overthrow. They regard him as the chief obstacle in the way of the militarist’s policy. Krupp newspapers violently denounce him. It is an open secret that serious differences were manifested at Brest Litovsk between Kuhlmann and Czernin on one hand, and German military representatives on the other. Also that Kuhlmann frequently appealed to Her lin for approval. German democrats are agitating for the removal of Hiudenburg and Ludendorff, in order to end the military influence over the German political policy.