PEACE TALK.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1916, Page 5

PEACE TALK.

GERMAN VIEWS. DIVIDING THE SPOILS. Amsterdam, Doc. 17. . Conservative and .Socialist minor. Jty party discussed the peace; proposals. Hie Consfrvjitives approved the Note, but saw littlo chance of acceptance, and protested that the Reichstag parties had not given an opportunity of debate, because the woHd would then have learned ttbother the German pepple was unanimous or not in desiring to hasten peace I , a !I !"' osts ' but ready to fight to the last if it was a question ol securing the II lure existence of Germany. % ■r T Ju eia,ist minority resolved that it the Ivote led to peace it would be necessary that' all countries, should «- ncunce the idea of annexation of territory or the political and- military subjection of any people. Armaments should everywhere be restricted by international agreements and all differences submitted to mediation.. It appears that the Germans are already dividing the spoils. From wellinformed sources it is known that Germany is discussing the following rearrangement of territory, based on the ide,i that the restoration of .Roumanian independence is not desired:—Russia to rEcei\e Moldavia in compensation for considerable sacrifices which will bi, demanded from her; Poland to b? made an independent kingdom; Courland to be a German Federal ' State; Lithuania to be incorporated with Prussia ; the Dobrudja to be restored to Bulgaria, also Wallaehia.

. THE CHANCELLOR'S 'ARROGANCE. Zurich Dec. 17. Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg, prior to the meeting of the Reichstag, refused to c details of the peace terms at a private conference of party leaders. The Chancellor demanded unfettered power in the negotiations, otherwise lie would resign. SWISS GOVERNMENT ADVERSE. Copenhagen, Doe. 17. The Zurich correspondent of the Koelnieehe Zeitung learns that the Swiss Government does not consider the present moment favorable for pence negotiations such as Germany asks neutrals tttransmit. She does not believe there any prospects of reaching a result in the direction of the Geripan peace efforts. She believes it not impossible that a radiator might be suspected. The Swiss Parliament will not discuss the offer.

HARPING ON A CONFERENCE. Copenhagen, .Dee. 17. The Frankfurter Zeitung says the German Note does not contain peace terms, but suggests a conference of all belligerents, at which each will announce its p«ace conditions and the ideals for which it is fighting. The conference, it is suggested, should be held at The Hague about January 15, fighting continuing meanwhile. GERMANS DISAPPOINTED. Paris. Doc. 17. The Journal's Zurich correspondent says the German people are bitterly disappointed at the failure of the peace proposals- Hie Chancellor's coup is proving a two-edged weapon, as the ruin of the hopes raised is rendering the rekindling of fighting ardor diilicult. The people realise that, despite, the apparent victories, they must endure fresh miseries, since the Allies' refusal is based on confidenee of final victory.

liERNSTORFFS PRESS CAMPAIGN. New York. Dec 1 17. Count -Bemstorlf is endeavoring to lrnnipulate a press, campaign favorable to a peace conference, '['lie Hearst papers arc- assisting with special articles, and .the livening Journal i« organising ? peace petition to Mr. Wilson. • FEELING IN THE TRENCHES. London, Dec. 17. A correspondent at headquarters says the first intimation of the peace proposals in the first line trenches came mostly from the German trendies, where chalked boards quoting the Kaiser's grandiloquent address were exhibited. The news Mas received with scepticism and sarcasm. Tin- correspondent, summarising the views of officers and men, said was interpreted as an admission that the Germans wisli for peace badly, -Imt on impossible terms. The troops believe thr- terrible hammering,the enemy lias received and is about to receive on the Scmme is a governing factor in the proposals. T'ne correspondent declares that there would be the most profound indignation if an order to cease hostilities was given on any other conditions than those tantamount to a German admission of coming defeat. RUSSIAN OPINION. Athens, Dec. 13. A correspondent at Petrograd says that the Germans', latest attempt to,, divide the Allies has fallen absolutely flat. The Russian view is that peace can come only when the enemy has been expelled from the occupied territories, Belgium and Serbia liberated, all Polish lands united. Roumanian jnd Italian ruticnal aspirations realised, and the roober den of Europe, wiped out.

PORTUGAL INSISTS'ON' CHASTISEMENT OF GERMANS. ' London, Dec. 17. Spain lias forwarded the Peace Note to Portugal, Belgium, Italy, and Rouroania. The Portuguese press demands the Inexorable chastisement of the Germans before peace is made. ADHERENCE TO PLEDGES TO BELGIUM. t London, Dec. 17. Mr. Lloyd George exchanged messages with M. Trepofi', Signor Boselli, and M. do Broeqneville, containing mutual assurances strengthening the friendships and unflinching efforts to secure, victory for the common ideals and adherence to the pledges to Belgium. Mr. Massey, in an article in Lloyds' Weekly, says: "If the Kaiser thinks we are' going to makt peace on his terms it is another of the Kaiser's many mistakes. Britishers will not forget that the peace proposals are 'made in Germany,' and will distrust them accordingly. The present jj&posals are an insult to the Empire. We shall carry on until Germany srtsnw for her crimes. 1 ?

HUMBLE GERMANY. A SERIOUS STEP; NOT A MANOEUVRE. Received Dec. 18, 11 p.m London, Dec. 18. The German peace note has reached the American Embassy in London. The Berlin Frankfurter Zeitung, in a scries of articles upon the peace proposals. apparently 'representing of Government, quarters, explains at gvcat length that the step taken by Germany is not a manoeuvre, but a serious attempt, to end the war. If the parties enter the negotiations with a view to reachin<>; a voluntary agreement thoy ought to be satisfied with what they consider to be absolutely- necessary to their national existence. Big apparent differences will be of less import if the parties in verbal conversations went deeper into each other's claims. An agreement concerning tlie limitation of armaments might be, reached, and a modus vivendi found for fixing the relative strengths of the German and British fleets.

GERMANY'S TERMS. 1 Received Dec. 18, 5.5 p.m. London, Doc. 17. The Daily Chronicle's Amsterdam correspondent understands that the German terms include the division of Belgium into paitfs, Flemish and Walloons, each separate civil organisation to be united .under one sovereign. The recent establishment 'of a Flemish university at Ghent foreshadowed this decision. Other terms are designed to inflict the largest losses on Bussia. THE POPE'S ACTION. Copenhagen, Dec. 17. The Pope is issuing a Christmas peace proclamation.