PEACE TALK.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 January 1917, Page 5

PEACE TALK.

. TEXT OF ALLIES' REPLY. THE ALLIES' TERMS. ; A STRIKING INDICTMENT. DETERMINED TO ACHIEVE . VICTORY. New York, .Tan. 11. The Allies' reply insists im the restoration of occupied territories, alao territories wrested from tlie Allies hi the post; the liberation of Italians, Slavs. Roumanians, and Czechs, and the. expulsion of the Turks from Europe. The detailed terms cannot be discussed until "the hour of negotiation." Unitad, Service. London, Jan. 11. The vNote to President Wilson approves the suggestion for an International Peace League, if practicable, on the: basis of nationality It r.lso roughly indicates the desired reconstruction of Europe. The boundaries of France .'.re to be reconstructed in the spirit of restitution, the Italian provinces redeemed, and Russia given nccesc to the Sea of Marmora Britain i 3 h'.ot mentioned. Belgium is to be indemnified, and the map of the Balkans redrawn, o" the b?.sis of nationalities. The Allies state that they aro determined to continue the war to a victorious close., They associate themselves with the American suggestion that after the war a Pc?.ce League should ,be foimed. Thej believe a satisfactory peace is at present impossible. .

J Received Jar. 12, 5.25 p.m. I The Allies' reply to President Wilson's Note welcomes the snirit animating the ; communication. After -supporting the 'proposal to create a league of nation* 'to assure universal peace and justice t)i« Kote expresses the view that it ic I impossible at present to obtain a pence 'which would not only scours reparation. ' restitution, and guarantees—due through : (He Central Empires' guiltv sift of e.a- . [rresMon—,but also enable the future of 'European nations to be established on a sure foundation. The Allies disclaim responsibility for the losses and suffering entailed upon neutrals, as they in nowise provoked the war. They feel it their duty 1:0 challenge the ' analogy drawn .between the ends for whieh the belligerents are fighting which directly conflicts with the evidence of history, and which clearly established one fact, namely, the calculated policy of aggression whereby Ausr tro-Gerniaiiy sought to ensure the hegemony of fiuropc and universal economic dominion* by ft declaration of war and , the instant violation of Belgium and Luxemburg. The method* of warfare of Germany proved systematically that she ■=eorus e"vcry principle of humanity and the respect due to the small State The reply proceed? to set out and further stress the enemy crimes, >nd Torn lis the horrors marking the invasion of Belgium and Serbia and the irtrocious treatment they are undergoing, also the massacres of hundreds,of thousands of inoffensive Armenians, the barbarities in Syria, the Zeppelin raids on open towns, the submarining of liners and, fhippir.g. Including neutral'shipping, and the cruel treatment of war prisoners, the judicial murders of Nurse Cavell and Captain Frvatt. and the deportation aril c-.n----slavemont. of the civil population, etc. Such a catalogue of crimes explain... the Allied protest ,it the nr.dlogy.

The Allies find no difficulty in meeting President Wilson's request to state the. war aims. These ean.onlv he formulated in detail, with all just com>ensatip«i«, indemnities, and losses when the moment, for negotiation arrives, but it is ■Veil known they include primarily an d necessarily

Tdie restoration | of Belgium, Serbia, akd Montenegro; The evacuation of. invaded France, Russia, and Roumania; The reorganisation of Europe en the right of all peoples to have the enjoyment, of full security for free economic development; Also, upon the question of territorial agreements, international arrangements must be framed to guarantee 1 land and ,sea frontiers against unjust attacks; 'Hie restitution of provinces end territories formerly torn from the Allies forcibly or contrary to the inhabitants' wishes; The liberation of Italians, Slavs, Roumanians Czechs, and Slovaks from foreign domination; Liberation of peoples lying beneath the murderous tyranny of the Turks; The expulsion from Europe nf the Ottoman Empire, which has proved itself radically alien t3 western civilisation. It adds that the Czar's ir,fcntiq»i in regard Co Poland is shown in the proclamation just nndresiifd t» Kn armies. The Allies* diselaint any intention to externVnate'or politically extinguish the Germanic nations, though wishing to rescue. F.uropfc trim A:* TiruHl encroachments of Prussian militarism. The reply concludes that ihc Allies arc determined to endure every sacrifice in order to press to a victorious olose a ct.nfliet whereon will depend their own safety and.the prosperity of every future civilisation. *

ANOTHER GERMAN NOTE. THE OLD LIE REITERATED. PRETENDED SURPRISE. Berlin,' Jan. H Germany, in a new Note to neutral*, accuses the Allies of responsibility for the war, declaring that history will judge on whom the immense guilt of the war will fall. Germany took arms to defend her liberty and existence, and this aim has been achieved. On the other hand, Germany's enemies 'departed from, their plans, and now seek' the eon' quest of Alsace-Lorraine, the humiliation of Austria, the partition of Turkey, and the mutilation of Bulgaria. This is surprising in face of the Allies' demands for reparation. Germany'meant the peace note sincerely and hoped it \vould succeed. -'■-■—

NEW GERMAN NOTE. THE MAIN POINT EVADED. A LIST OF GRIEVANCES Received Jan, 12 11.55 p.m. i New York, Jan. 12. The new German Note to neutrals adds that Germany is ready to announce lier peace conditions when negotiations have begun. She protests against the violation of the Declaration of London. It asserts that war of starvation against Germany conflicts with the Laws of Nations and the dictates li humanity; that the use of colored troops is incompatible with the principles of civilisation, and \ni3ermines the prestige of the white race. The Note. : eiterates that Belgium, before the wai, did not ohserve neutrality, and states that the Central Powers will lonthme the struggle until they gain peace, guaranteeing their honor a«d existence with liberty of development. IMPRESSIVE BELGIAN NOTE. New York, Jan. 11. The Belgian Note to the United States piotests against the suggestion of President 'Wilson';: seeming belief that the object.!, of the. belligerents are similar l . German bsftbarity towards Belgium doe?, not fienr.it of the supposition that there would be any guarantee of the rights'of weak nations after tin war. Paris, Jan. 11. M. Briand -handed the American Ambiifsador a Note from the Belgian Government adhering to the repjy of the Allies and thanking!the American Government for its generous services to the unfortunate Belgian people.»-