PEACE MOVEMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, 23 October 1918, Page 5

PEACE MOVEMENT.

TEXT OF GERMANY’S REPLY.

THE KAISER STILL REIGNS.

LONDON, October 21.

Admiralty wireless A German official communique states. Germany’s reply to President Wilson is as follows: In accepting your proposal for the evacuation of occupied territories, the German Government has started from the assumption that the procedure of this evacuation and the conditions of an armistice should be left to the military advisers, and the actual standard of power of both sides in the field must form the basis of arrangements for safeguarding and guaranteeing the standard. The German Government suggests to the President that an opportunity should be arranged for fixing the details, and trusts the President will approve of no demand irreconcilable with the honour of the German people, and with the opening of the way to a peace of justice. The German Government protests against the reproach of illegal and actions made against the German land and sea forces,- and thus against the German people. For covering a retreatdestructions will always be necessary, and in so far as is permitted by international law. The Ge-man troops are under the strictest instruction to spare private property and 3xcr;:s3 care w;tu the population to the best of rheir ability. Where transgressions occur, despite these instructions, the guilty are punished. The German Government further denies that the Navy, in sinking ships, ever purposely destroyed lifeboats with passengers. The Government purposes, regarding ail these charges, that the facts be cleared up by a neutral commission. In order io avoid anything hampering the work towards peace, the German Government has despatched orders to all submarine commanders preluding the torpedoing of passenger ships, without, however, for technical reasons, being able to guarantee that the orders will reach every single submarine at sea before its return. As a fundamental condition of peace, the President prescribes the destruction of every arbifrary power that can separately, secretly, and of ’its own single choice, disturb the peace of the .world. To this, the German Government replies that hitherto the representation of the people of the German Empire has not been endowed with influence. On the formation of the Government ,the constitution did not provide for the concurrence of the representatives of the people in the decisions .of peace and war. These decisions must now undergo a fundamental change. A new government has been formed, in complete accordance with the principle of the representation of the people, based on equal, universal, secret, direct franchise. The leaders,of the groaf parties in the Reichstag are. members of this Government. In future no Government can make or continue in office without possessing the confidence of the majority of the Reichstag. The responsibility of the Chancellor of the Empire to the presentation of the people is being legally developed and safeguarded. The first act of the new Government has been to lay before the Reichstag a Bill to alter the constitution of the Empire in order to require the consent of the representatives of the people for decisions of war and peace. The permanence of the new system is, however, guaranteed not only by constitutional guards, but also by the unshakoable determination of of the German people, whose vast majority stands behind fhesc reforms and demands their energetic continuance. The President’s question, with whom he and the Governments associated against Germany arc dealing, is therefore answered in a clear and unequivocal manner by the statement that the offer of peace and an armistice emanated from a Government which is free from any arbitrary and irresponsible influence, and is supported by the approval of an overwhelming majority of the German people—(Signed.) Solf, Berlin.

.STATEMENT IN THE COMMONS.. LONDON, October 21. In the the House of Commons, replying to a series of questions regarding President Wilson’s fourteen points, Mr Balfour said it was not desirable at present to discuss questions arising from the negotiations between Germany and President Wilson. The “Times 7 -” points out that the second German Note uses the word “satze” meaning “thesis” instead of “ bedingungen ” meaning “terms” used in the first Note. This stamps the Note as a deliberate subterfuge and a crooked answer.

BRITISH CABINET COUNCIL'S

OPINION.

Received 8.50 a.m.

LONDON, Oct 22,

The Cabinet Council has considered the German reply, but it technically concerns the United States only, so there is no public announcement. The general impression is that the ivnlv

is utterly unsatisfactory, and amounts to a mere quibble. It fails to recognise Germany’s military defeat. Military men scoff at tbe idea that an actual standard of power on both sides shall form the basis of an armistice, and point out that the first basis of strategy is to ' conceal military strength. Naval opinion favours the demand for the surrender of all Üboats prior to an amistiee.

AN OUT-AND-OUT SENATOR.

NO MORE NEGOTIATIONS WITH

ENEMY.

•A JOINT RESOLUTION INTRODUCED.

Received 8.50 a.m.

WASHINGTON, Oct 23

Senator Poindexter introduced a joint resolution proposing that Congress shall forbid further negotiations by the United States with Germany until the German forces surrender unconditionally. The resolution further calls for the prosecution of the war with the utmost vigour, and the occupation and control of such German territory as can be obtained by force until peace negotiations are concluded The resolution declares it should be unlawful for any official of the American Government to ’answer any message, Note, or representation from Germany on the subject of peace or an armistice. The resolution was referred to the Foreign Relations Committee. State Department officials believe the wireless German Note does not represent the exact official text.

TAFT LOSING PATIENCE,

WITH INNTEk CHANGE OF N EGO

TIATIONS.

Received 9.45 a.m

NEW YOEK, October 22

Mr Taft, interviewed at Philadelphia, said: Another German Peace Note has come, but we are no nearer peace. Germany has adopted a popular form of. Government overnight, as it were,, but where are the Hohenzollerns? Have they surrendered? Who controls the German army ; and navy? It is difficult to be patient ..with such a travesty at such a time. We hope the answer will be sent closing the chapter of useless negotiations.

THE NOTE WHOLLY UNSATISFACTORY.

Received 10.40 a.m. WASHINGTON, Oct 21

Unofficial comment on the unofficial text of the German answer points out that two things are clear, namely, the Note sent is entirely and absolutely unsatisfactory, or there would have been much more stir upon its receipt; furthermore, the Note’comes from the present German Government, with which the United States has refused to deal. It is thought the tone of the Note'is evasive.

“GO TO HELL!"

A RUDE REMARK BY A LABOUR M. P.

Received 9.20 a.m

LONDON, Oct 22

Referring to the German reply a prominent Labour member of the House of Commons said: “My answer to the Huns is to “Go to Hell! v *

PREPARATION FOR EVACUATION OF TERRITORY.

AND DEMOBILISATION OF GERMAN ARMY.

Eeecivecl 9.45 a.m. WASHINGTON, October 22

The Government learns from Copenhagen dispatches that the German railroads have been asked to prepare not only for evacuation of the occupied territories, but for the actual demobilisation of the German army.