PEACE TALK.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 August 1915, Page 5

PEACE TALK.

GERMAN SOCIALISTS' VIEWS. A SUPPRESSED APPEAL. STATEMENT AT A SECRET CONFERENCE. Berne, August IA. The Socialist newspaper Volkrecht publishes a memorial which Germany suppressed. Jt was presented to the Reichstag by the newly-formed Society of Neuvs Vaterkuul. The memorial says: "It is madness to imagine that a victorious Germany could render Britain and Russia powerless for any considerable period. Even supposing, which i 3 absurd, that Britain lost Egypt, India, South Africa and Gibraltar, and' Russia' lost Finland, the Baltic provinces, Ukraine and .Poland, then Britain, with her remaining colonies, such as Australia and Canada, would be united closer than ever, If there was a certainty of a. new strength conscription would bo introduced and Russia, with her illimitable territories and population, would very soon he ready and capable of fighting again;, "Annexation, Instead of dividing the foes after tie war, would only unite them more closely. Britain would certainly never. accept a peace involving annexation unless she was completely overthrown. No serious person in Germany believes that Britain can be completely crushed. Annexation in the east would only benefit the agrarians, and in the west only increase the dividends of the great industrial organisations. The great mass of the people suffering under intolerable war sacrifices demand a peace which will not bring advantages to small interested circles at the cost of the whole nation." Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, August 24. Amsterdam papers, describing a secrot conference convened by Herr von JSethmann-ITollweg before the meeting of the Reichstag, state that the Chancellor insisted on the imparative necessity of preparing for an honorable peace, and advised those present to use their influence to soften down the bellicose inclinations for an expansion policy so that the Reichstag might formulate peace proposals which would be acceptable to the Entente.

SECRET CONFERENCE IN BERLIN. HIGH OFFICIALS UNEASY. Received August 25, 9.15 p.m. Amsterdam, August 25. The Telegraaf reports a secret conference at Berlin between writers, politicians, and Cabinet members, prior to the floating of the war loan. Herr Helfferich explained that the loan would exhaust the nation's resources, and urged the necessity of an honorable peace. Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg told the conference that financial difficulties were increasing, and urged the Reichstag to abandon bellicose declarations, and prepare peace proposals that would be acceptable to the Allies. Von Moltke supported this, and declared that those people who expected Russia's complete defeat were being misled, and misunderstood the situation. Despite the attitude of the Chancellor, the conference refused to accept a resolution for moderation in the Reichstag, whereupon Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg threatened to resign if bellicose proposals were pressed upon the nation, as he might be held responsible for disasters that might happen.