PEACE TALK.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1916, Page 5

PEACE TALK.

BRITAIN'S REPLY,

ADEQUATE REPARATION'

SECURITY FOR THE FUTURE.

Received Dec. 15, 5.5 p.m,

London, Dec. 14. Referring to the peace proposals, Mr. Bonar Law reminded the House of Commons that Mr. Asquitli. when moving the last credit vote, declared that the Allies would require adequate reparation for the past, and adequate security for the future. That was still our policy, mid that was still tlie leterinmation of the Government. (Prolonged cheers.) °

FRENZIED SCENES IN BERLIN. WEIGHT OF THE NIGHTMARE OF WAR. MORE GERMAN THREATS'. IF PEACE TERMS NOT ACCEPTED. deceived Dee. 15, 11 p,m. Berne, Dec. 15. German telegrams show that the masses firmly believe the Government's offer brings peace within measurable distance.

There wc.-c frenzied scenes in Berlin when the purport of Herr BethmannIlolhvcg's speech became known. Men rushed wildly from cafes, and women crowded the churches, where Protestant pastors and Catholic priests offered extempore prayers for peace, The scenes showed how heavily the nightmare of war weighs on the Gorman people. The excitement was. reflected on the Berlin Bourse. Shares rose with astonishing rapidity, but collapsed with equal suddenness upon receipt of unfavorable forecasts of the Allies' answer. Popular excitement continues at fever pitch, crowds standing all night in a snowstorm outside the newspaper offices, hoping for news from the Entente'capitals. Amsterdam, Dec. 15. The Rhenische Wcstphalien Gazette states:—-We believe the enemy will certainly refuse the peace offer, and even attribute it to weakness. We are confident that an answer will echo from Germany such as the enemy never

dreamed. j The Lokal Anzcigcr says:—Tn case the enemy rejects the hand held out, we and our allies wiil unanimously approve of the merciless prosecution of the war with every weapon at our disposal. The responsibility rests with the Governments and (Parliaments which refuse to end the war till they are annihilated. The Tageblatt urges the public to disregard the lisappointiug Entente Press comments regarding peace, and adds that not until the New Year shall we know how thrilling the appeal has struck into the hearts of the Entente's peoples. The Frankfurter Zeitung humbly states that Germany docs not claim pcare as a victor, but makes the proposals expecting counter-proposals, leading to a compromise. H pleads for a conference, whereat the actual discussion would remove misunderstandings. 'King Ferdinand has sent a message to the Bulgarian army as follows: All our enemies are conquered. We a::d the Central Sovereigns, inspired bv victories, have made a proposal for peace, and will soon see if the highly humanitarian action is justly appreciated by our enemies. Meanwhile we will win new victories, with the help of God. (Reuter Service.) Received Dec. 15, 11.30 p.m. Amsterdam, Dec. 14. .lerman newspapers are surprised at the Allies' coolness towards peace, and blame England, towards whom they are adopting a menacing tone. Theodor Woolff protests against the publication by the leading industrial association? of Jie peace programme, which demands ilie annexation of Poland, Lithuania, the Baltic provinces, Belgium, and the French coast to the mouth of the Somme. WoollT asks: Will peace ever be signed if we speak of keeping Belgium? The. people who are getting over-rich through the war a/e making those demands.

TORN TO RAGS. RUSSIANS SEE THROUGH GERMAN GAME. Received Dec. 15, 10 p.m.' Petrograil, Dee. 15. The whole Press tear the peace proposal to rags, and declare if is primarily intended to make the Germans believe that the continuance of the war is forced upon Germany.

U.S. CONGRESS ASKED NOT TO PARTICIPATE. rXIXS* nJRIIANY PAYS FOR TI VAX CRIMES. Received Dec. 15, 11 p.m. Washington, Dee. 15. •Senator Gardiner lias introduced a resolution asking Congress not, to participate in promoting an unjust peace. America should not support peace unless it provided for tlie return of all territories and the payment of indemnities to the Allies, and the disarmament of Germany, NO OFFER TO BELGIUM. A. & N.Z. Cable Association and Reutcr. Received Bee. 13, 11.20 p.m. London, Dec. 15. The Belgian Legation denies any recent Au»t.rn-Gvra«n' offer" of peace to

THE NEWS IN JAPAN. ALLIES WILL NOT CONSIDER THE PROPOSALS. Renter ServiceReceived Dee. 15, 0.10 p.m. Tokio, Dec. 14. The peace proposals came as a surprise. The Stock Exchange became panicky, and shares fell heavily. The Kxchange closed till the Kith, 'influential opinion does not believe the Allies will consider the proposal. THE REASONS WHY. STATEMENT BY LORD XORTIL CLIFFE. Received Dee. 15, 10 p.m. » Xew York, Dee. 15. Lord Xorthcliffe, in an interview with ti't United Press Association. said the ptace move was due to shortage of food in Germany, the strained relations between Germany, Austria, and Turkey, and the fact that Germany knows that Biltain will have thrice the guns and shells of Germany in 1!)17. The proposals are received in England with contempt. He was gratified that America had seen through the bluff. The Allie3 will stand firm as a rock. RUSSIA SCORNS Till' PROPOSALS.

Received Dec. 15, 5.5 p.m. I IPetrograd, Doc. 14. An authoritative opinion as to the peace proposals is.that they are a fresh trap, and 'that a premature peace would he a terrible mistake. The Allies must proceed to a final triumph. Received Dec. 10, 1.30 a.m Ffetrograd, Dee. 15. A semi-official 'Note scornfully criticises the peace proposals, and declares tliat all tlie innumerable sacrifices of the Allies would he nullified 'by a premature peace with the enemy, who is exhausted, but not yet brought down.

FEDERAL PREMIER'S VIEWS. Received Dec. 15, 11.30 p.m. Melbourne, Dec. 15, Mr. Hughes, in reply to questions, stated that he had received no communication from the Imperial Government regarding Germany's peace proposals, and added, amid a dramatic expression of approval from the members, that until criminal Germany was no longer able to outrage the world there would be no peace. Mr. Hughes, evading the question as to whether he intended to ask that Australia should be consulted before peace terms were agreed upon, said that when the terms had been considered by the British' Government, and its opinion expressed thereon, he would be, glad to lay them before the House, to enable members to express their views.

TERRITORIAL ANNEXATION. London, Dec. 14. Pan-German leagues are distributing a peace programme, including the retention of Belgium and the French coast to the mouth of the" Somme, as the representative views of six of the most important industrial associations. Herr Wolff, in the Tageblatt, exposes this as 'an armament makers' plot. Count Reventlow, in the Tages Zeitnng, warns the Chancellor not to surrender the Belgian and Flanders coast. If the Germans leave Belgium, England will become mistress of Zeebrngge, and make Germany's position in the North Sea impossible.

THE SUGGESTED CONFERENCE. New York, Dee. 14. Count Bornstorff says a conference of belligerents is essential as a preliminary to any steps towards peace. Germany . wants a round-table conference at The Hague, to ascertain whether a basis of discussion can bo reached. Count Bernstorff professes to bo optimistic as to the chances of the Allies agreeing to the conference. The New York Herald says that the Abies will not overlook the Prussian terms outlined to the Washington Embassy. Count BernstoriPs volte face shows that he talked too freely, and another plan was spoiled owing to his eagerness to outline the terms of. the windings of Prussian diplomacy. The New York Sun characterises the' peace oilers as '-Berlin's trial balloon," Washington understands that 'President Wilscn is likely to be captious, merely transmitting messages. He will probably be guided by the tenor of Mr. Llovd George's speech. The State Department has received Germany's Peace Note, .which is identical with the published text. ' The State Department has transmitted the •Note- to the American Ambassadors for presentation to the Allied Cnveniments.