PEACE OVERTURES.

Taihape Daily Times, 14 October 1918, Page 5

PEACE OVERTURES.

PEACE NOTE DISCUSSED. DIVERSITY IN SENATE. ■ ' © WASHINGTON, Oct 11. During the debate in the Senate on the President's reply to the German Peace Note, attacks made upon Senator Lodge because of his criticism gave an opening for discussion. Senator Pitman accused Senator Lodge of desiring revenge against Germany, instead of seeking foundations for a lasting peace. Senator Lodge, replying, said he was unable to approve of the Presidential Notes of inquiry. He agreed with the President when he announced that there could be no compromise with Qiermany j on .any grounds. He disagreed when the President proposed to open discussion on the question of peace-making. The President was not a Commander-In-Chief making peace, as he was during war time. It was their duty to support the President in making war, but Congress had the right to declare Itself in making peace. The truth wa» that, despite the outburst of praise of President Wilson, his statement of terms puzzled"the country from one end to the other, and gave openings for endless debate. PEACE WITHIN SIGHT. LONDON, October 11. Viscount Grey, after two years of silence, addressed a crowded meeting in support of the League of Nations, in the Central Hall. The Archibishops of Conterbury and York, and other notable public men were on the platform. Viscount Grey said the Latest peace, overture marked a vast advance. He believed peace was within sight, but not yet within reach.. The country must meantime unitedly support the Government. The League of Nations could not be regarded as a substitute for the successful termination of the war, but when they reached the stage that the actual conduct of the war was no longer a source of absorbing interest, the Allied Governments would, have time and energy to devote to the great subject. The League - must ; be ■formed at the conclusion of peace;, if it were delayed the chance of its formation.. would .be gone. The League did not aim -at keeping out Germany, but no insincere nation would be admitted to it. , ;

Viscount Grey concluded by saying that he agreed with President Wilson that each member of the League of Nations should settle its- own fiscal policy, but must ally it equally with all members of the League. An economic boycott, if brought (into existence by the Entente,, sholud be kept in reserve as a part of the League’s machinery in order to deter any attempt at breaking faith as a menlbef ■ of • the League. Germany led the "way in armaments and must now lead the' way in disarmament. We could not ’have any talk of disarmament until Germany disarms. The League should’ deal with any governments forcing the pace in armaments. The iLcgaue could provide an international force to enable action to be taken against any wrongdoer. TURKEY OVERAWED BY GERMANY. LONDON, October 11. The Daily Chronicle states that the Turkish Peace Note has not arrived, though there is reason to believe that the new Turkish Government has drafted it. It is pointed out that the Turkish Government is largely in Germany’s power, as the Goeben and the Black Sea squadron are able to overawe Constantinople. The British Government iis-. piling to conSid'er only bona-fide proposals. The Daily News Zurich correspondent says: “Ixzet Pasha succeeds Enver Pasha as Minister of War. Enver is trying desperately to retrieve ’the position. The Sultan is antagonistic to the Young Turks. All the leading Ministers in the new Ministry are well known to be anti-German.” The Central News Agency states that Austria-Hungary and Turkey have informed Germany of their acceptance of President Wilson’s peace terms, as previously outlined. AUSTRIA OUT OF THE WAR MILITARILY. Uec-.r. cd «.45 <i.m. LONDON, October 12

The Daily News Zurich corcrspondent says it may be definitely asserted that Austria-Hungary made the last offer in conjunction wit a Germany. If peace does not result it will quickly offer a separate unejuditbii'il peace. He can state definitely that Germany knows her ally is out of the war militarily; and is hurrying to destruction. Only an immediate peace can avert the Empire’s catastrophic end. The correspondent confirms the truth of the negotiations for a dissolution of the Empire into autonomous States, and adds the Emperor shortly proclaims a Jugo-Slav kingdom.

“PRUSIA IS DEAD” SLAIN BY HER ALLIES. AMSTERDAM, October 11 The Conservative paper “Kreuz Zei--tung, ” commenting on recent events, says: Prussia is dead, but we receive the Socialist Democracy’s sword-thrust standing erect. The work of great Prussians from Frederick the Great to William the Second lies in ruins. n The Krupp newspaper “Dusseldorf Ncahrichten” states: “Germany is dying at the hands of her own allies. german newspaper opinion. PROSPECTS OF PEACE FAVOURABLE. Received 8.45 a.m. AMSTERDAM, Oct 12. The “Ffemdenblatt” says the Government and Reichstag have unrestrictedly accepted Wilson’s “entire programme as a basis of peace, and the aim of further deliberation is to reach a compromise upon practical details. It declares the evacuations demanded is not impossible if it Is guaranteed that Belgium will not again become the theatre of war. Germany believes peace is dawning, but declares Germany’s possessions must be guaranteed to it. “Vorwaerts” regards the prospects for peace as favourable, and warns against impatient expectations. The “Frankfurter Zeitung” inquires if it is demanded that the evacuations shall include the Eastern occupied territories. It alleges Poland has requested a continuance of occupation, and doubtless the Baltic Provinces will do fhe same. PEACE TALK AND ATROCIOUS CONDUCT. STRAIGHT TALK BY PRESSMEN. Received 9.5 a.m. LONDON, Oct 12. Frequent comment in London on the Leinster case is if Germany -ban really ended militarism, as Erzeberger claims, the new civil power in Germany must bear the blame for the atrocities. It means that either Germany’s new constitutionalism is a sham or equally odious t as militarism as ,far as submarining is concerned. Sir Auckland Geddes says .Germany is trying to find a way of avoiding defeat. His great fear is we will be bluffed into a wrong peace. The request for an armistice i? part of that scheme. Germany’s aim is to keep what she can in order to prepare for world domination.

Mr. Balfour, at a luncheon to American Press delegates, referred to the Leinster. The Germans professed a changed constitution, but were apparently unchanged at heart. They were brutes when they commenced the war, and still remained brutes. The Leim ster carried no. military stores and served no. .military purpose. The torpedoing.' was pure barbarism, pure frightfulness, deliberately enacteH in broad . daylight. One would have thought the Germans would shrink from repeating a crime which brought America into the war, particularly at a moment when America, perhaps more than any other belligerent, was deciding Germany’s fate. It is incredible to think that this and other even more destructive and-cowardly crimes against the helpless civilised prisoners, did not commend themselves to lire German people. STERN ATTITUDE OF SCIENTISTS Received 5.45 a.m. LU-NDON, October 12. The Inter-Allied Conference *of Scientific Academics announces it will not renew personal relations with enemies until they renounce their atrocities and policy of murders and outrages wherewith they have stained their history. ENTENTE GOVERNMENTS HAVE DECIDED. ON A COMMON LINE OF ACTION. Received 8.45 a.m. LONDON, October 12. The Daily Express says the Entente Governments have discussed the German peace overtures, and have decided on a common line of action. SERBIA’S MAGNANIMITY. Received 10.45 a.m. LONDON, October 12. The Serbian Premier, interviewed, said Serbia needed a very slight rectification of frontier to safeguard her railways towards Eoumania and Salonika. but Serbia and the other Balkan States were willing to forgive Bulgaria for oppressing their peoples. GENERAL PAD’S OPINION. : J Received 11.20 a.m. MELBOURNE, this day. Commenting on Germany’s acceptance of Wilson’s terms General Pan said the feeling that peace was iurminent was unjustified.

SURRENDER OF U-BOATS SHOULD BE DEMANDED, Received. 11.20 a.m. LONDON# Oct 12. Mr, Pollen, naval writer, points out while Wilson requires the evacuation of territory as a preliminary to the discussion of an armistice there is no stipulation with to the very (Wetlpoxi which brought American into the war. Wilson should demand the surrender of the submarines as a further preliminary. “Freeman’s Journal” says Prussian militarism is as ruthless In defeat as in victory. The “Irish Independent” hopes rer tribution will be exacted. The “Irish Times” trusts recruiting in Ireland will be stimulated. London newspapers remark the socalled re-formed Germany must be judged by deeds, not professions. They revive the Kaiser’s recent message to the nation saying: “We will so wage the war that when it is over we \tei be able to recall every act with a clear conscience.”

OPINION ON GERMANY’S CAPITULATION. SURRENDER OP U-BOATS DEMANDED. Received 11.30 a.m LONDON, Oct 12. When Germany’s acceptance of Wilson’s terms was announced in London theatres and music halls on Saturday night the audience rose and sang the National Anthem with the greatest enthusiasm. Mr. J. A. Simon, in a speech at Walthamstow in the afternoon, said he saw no change in the heart of Germany. He added if the controllers or her destinies were sincerely desirous of real peace let them forthwith abandon their. submarine warfare. AUSTRIA QUIETLY DISINTIGRATING. FOUR INDEPENDENT STATES FORMED. . NEW NATIONS- CALLED INTO • : ... BUING. Received!* 9.15 arm. - LONDON,' October 12. The; Daily Telegraph's -Milan correspondent says revolutionary Chagos are quietly occupying- and the-- ’AustroHungarian Governments look on.,passively. . Various j parties ‘ have fofmed committees,' who apparently work in the completest harmony. The Committees propose four independent states, including Czecho-Slovak, Jugoslav and German. All parties concur in the plan in principle; the discussions relate to detailsfl The Austrian Socialists, who are conducting the discussions for the Gorman State proposes to adopt the present boundaries of Austria. The Czechoslovaks and Jugo-slavs declare their intention ’of proclaiming their sovereignity first, and then arranging boundaries with their neighbours in the hope that' the peace conference ■will ratify the 'decisions. ‘ The. German deputies have summon'ed a German convocation to safeguard German Nationalists’ aims.' Every party ignores the Eeichstrath.

The consensus of earliest newspaper opinion is that Wilson will not recommend the Allies to grant a German armistice unless accompanied by a solid guarantee over and" above the evacuation of invaded territory, such guarantee to includeT'according to some writers, the occupation by the AngloFrench or Americans of the fortress or Metz and bridgeheads of the Rhine. It is taken for granted that Foch will lay this down as a military condition. Several newspapers insistently demand the surrender of German submarines before any suspension of hostilities.

The “Observer”" emphasised the danger of (Jefmhny attempting to use Wilson for "tEe purpose of baffling Foch. Any armistice must be accompanied by guarantees making it impossible for the enemy to renew the struggle.

The “Sunday Times” says no surrender could be more complete or sudden. Hence we must hold it suspect. If the suggestion for a mlxe» commission is not a proposal for a Peace Conference and consequent bargaining, doubtless the Germans fervently trust It may develop into one. We must hope Wilson .will make it a clear understanding that any omissions in the fourteen points of the Allies’ demands must be vigorously enforced, including the punishment of the criminal? inspiring and organising the H&voc and atrocities o'n land, also naval and mercantile reparation for flagrant violations of the laws of marine warfSrd.