PEACE CAMOUFLAGE.

Taihape Daily Times, 20 May 1918, Page 6

PEACE CAMOUFLAGE.

REASON FOR GERMAN MOVE. London, May 6. A distinguished member of the Ministry, interviewed by the United Service, said .that it would be foolish, perhaps fatal, to entertain for a moment the idea that Germany was seeking peace. Nothing was more certain than that renewed attacks were coming with the full and mighty force of the armies of the Central Powers. The interviewer asked: "Then why this so-called peace offensive?" The Minister replied: "The German leaders are showing no signs of discouragement in the west, their confident challenge continues. We do not believe there is anything in the peace offensive except the carefully veiled use of neutral agents to confuse, weaken, or, if possible, paralyse our arms. There is nothing in it." The Tntervieyer: "Germay is still confident of complete victory?" The Minister: "Obviously, or she would not continue her western battles.' ' The Interviewer: "We will hold?" The Minister: "Surely we will hold, I am not pessimistic. I believe that the enemy effort will be exhausted before the exhaustion of our defences, but every man is needed now, and in the future." The "Times" compares the enemy peace offensive to Prince Metternich's | cynically astute and successful offer after the battle of Leipsic, whereby French opinion was detached from Napoleon. j "Such negotiations," adds the "Times," "are not precludes towards fc/eace, but weapons of war." Dr. Dernburg, formerly German Colonial Minister and Special Envoy to America, described the Reichstag resolution (annexations and indemnities) as designed to break the Entente's home front, whilst Herr Hausmann obligingly explained that it was designed to paralyse the enemy's war will.