PEACE MOVEMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, 24 October 1918, Page 5

PEACE MOVEMENT.

REPLY A MANOEUVRE TO GAIN TIME. LONDON, Oct 22. The newspapers generally regard Germany’s reply as an admitted desire to gain time, but consider that it shows no sign that she is ready to accept the Allies’ terms, but rather hopes to gain an armistice on terms of the military status quo. Such an armistice would stop the flow of Americans across the Atlantic. Meanwhile Germany would be recuperating daily. The ‘'"Chronicle” stages that ; Dr. Self’s proposal represents one stage along the downward pathway of surrender, which he desires to make gradually. We do not know whether President Wilson will continue to interchange Notes by himself or will prefer now to associate the Allies with future replies. At any rate, he is not likely to be easily satisfied. The “Daily News” says that if President Wilson regards the reply as sufficient he will submit the appeal for an armistice, and the naval and military authorities will indicate the guarantees required. These guarantees will furnish a practical test of the sincerity of the demand and the present power of the piilitary rulers. The “Daily News” urges the Allies to be armed for any emergency. It is urgently necessary to co-ordinate the Entente’s political front. It also declares that a section of the Press is playing the German game in hinting that European allies must have their own policy. The “Daily Telegraph” thinks it is time to end negotiations, which can bear no result while Germany is in her present mood. Military opinion considers that the reply indicates that the German High Command takes a more optimistic view of the situation of its armies than when the request for the armistice was launched. The retirement so far has not been disorderly, and the enemy believes that he has now reached a line where he is able to halt temporarily and thus for the time being stave off final defeat.

Colonel Repington writes that from the British viewpoint peace guarantees must, first be naval and then colonial.. We have suffered too much from the enemies lawlessness and inhumanity at sea to grant an armistice leaving him power to renew his depredations. The • Dominions will unanimously refuse to permit the German flag to reappear in any colonial, territory which their arms have conquered. GERMAN: NOTE DELIVERED YESTERDAY. OBSCURE POINTS WILL BE CLEARED UP. WASHINGTON PUZZLED. Received 9. a.m. , NEW YORK, October 23. The Times’ Washington correspondent sayA Swiss officials have announced that the German Note will not be delivered until Wednesday. The offiical text will clear up certain obscure passages in the wireless version. It w.as pointed out that as there were only troopships and transports on the high seas the German order to stop sinking, passenger ships is of little consequence

Mr. Wilson is in conference with Cabinet to-day. Generally speaking the German Note puzzled Washington. Some think it a clumsy effort to tell the world that the Germans are really reforming the Government without admitting it in so many words. Others think it is an attempt to continue negotiations in the hope that Mr Wilson will be induced to be more merciful in imposing terms.