PEACE TALK.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1916, Page 5

PEACE TALK.

"OLIVE BRANCHES," ESTABLISHED IX SWITZERLAND. Received Feb. 12, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 11, V'he TCxcliange Telegraph's Rome correspondent states that a permanent committee, which lias been established at Berne to advocate peace, meets today to submit a proposal for an armistice to all belligerents. The delegates declare that they have been informally told from Berlin that Germany will benevolently consider any peace offer emanating from the Allies. Simultaneously with the committee's efforts the German Chancellery is opening a peace branch at Lucerne, under the direction of Prince von Bulow, Prince Hohenlohe. and Baron von Kraft, who will immediately take steps with a view of inducing neutrals to intervene.

THE WAIL OF GERMAN? Received Feb. 12, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 11. The Exchange Telegraph's Copenhagen correspondent states that from Germany one hears now only the strong cry of the people for peace. 1 TWO WAYS, MUST BE SEPARATE PEACE. 1 Received Feb. 12, 5.5 p.ri, Zurich, Feb. 11. Professor Carl Binding, the wellknown Leipzig jurist, in an article entitled "Two Ways to Peace, by a General Peace Congress or Separate Treaties," argues that the Central Powers must insist on a separate peace, as the Central Powers would be in a minority at ;i General Congress, which Britain would dominate. She, of all the enemy States, can wait the longest for peace. Professor Binding believes that when a separate peace is once successfully entered upon one enemy State after another will accept it when they can no longer hold out.

"MAY COME OVER NIGHT." AFTER-WAR PROSPECTS. Received Feb. 12, 5.5 p.nj, Zurich, Feb. 11. Speaking at an industrial club at Vienna, on the outlook after the war, ■Herr Riedl, an officer in the Ministry of Commerce, said that Austria's commercial situation for the first six months after the war would be extremely dangerous, owing to the veritable famine in raw material. Only two countries, Britain and America, would be able to resume industrial production immediately. Although the Austro-German industries were intact they lacked the raw material, and unless Austria was prepared to prohibit importations Britain and America might take all the profits. The situation, Herr Riedl urged, required prompt organisation in industrial interests. Perce might come sooner than was expected; it could come over-niglit.

POWDERSI

"OUR AIMS." Received Feb. 13, 5.5. p.m. Amsterdam, Feb 12. Baron von Zeffllitz, the Prussian reporter, in a speech in the Prussian Diet said:—"ln view of the whole war situation the conclusion of peace In the near future is not possible, but an announcement of our aims appears necessary." AMERICAN AMBASSADOR'S VIEWS. , Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received Feb. 12, 5.30 p.m. London, Feb. 11. Mr. House, interviewed in London, said that he had not heard of peace discussions anywhere. He purposely avoided them, and spoke guardedly concerning the conditions in Berlin, where he saw no signs of anything in particular. Asked if his trip was successful, 'he replied:—"lt depends upon what you call successful; I am quite satisfied."