PEACE TALK.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 May 1917, Page 5

PEACE TALK.

ALLIES' TERMS UNCHANGED. ' PEACE MUST JUSTIFY THE SACRIFICES. t EMANCIPATION OF ENTHRALLED PEOPLES, Received May 17, 8 p.m. London, Hay Id. Tn the House ot Commons, on the third reading debate of the Consolidation Fund Bill, Mr. ijiilip Snowden moved welcoming the Russian Government's repudiation of imperialistic conquest, expansion, indemnity, or aggrandisement, and calling upon Britain to join the Allies in re-stating the terms of settlement of the war. He declared tlmt Britain must come into line with the democratic policy of Russia, which 'was concentrating towards peace, thus voicing the desiro of all belligerent democracies and socialists in the various countries. The revolution would not be confined to Russia. It would come in every country. The people of one of the allied countries were on the verge of revolution. The Allies' diplomacy was following undemocratic methods, and had welded the German classes together. The Government ought to regard the Socialist conference at Stockholm as a heaven-sent means of extricating the world from an awful position. Me. 11. B. Lees Smith, in seconding, said it would do no harm to enter into negotiations for peace. Mr.'Ramsay Mac Donald urged getting into confidential communication with tlio Russian Workmen's Council to see if they could establish sympathy in lacing the grave danger of Russia making a separate peace. • ' Lord Robert Cecil,, replying, said the Allies would adhere to their original war aims. Peace must justify the sacrifices. The Allies did not desire political annexations, bfit annexations emancipating enthralled peoples. It was impossible for the Allies to negotiate with Germany at the present moment. What did the plea of 110 annexation mean? Arabia had. declared her independence of Turkey. Was it proposed to again place Arabia under Turkey? Then there had been a terrible slaughter of Armenians, and similar atrocities in Palestine and the German colonies in Africa. Britain would not have gone to war to rescue the natives from this misrule, but, having rescued them, should wo hand them back to Germany if the war were successful? Such action was abhorrent. Within these limits Britain did not oppose the policy suggested by the phrase of "no annexation." Everyone agreed regarding the position of Poland, the Italian Irridenta, and Alsace-Lorraine. As regards lio indemnities, what about Belgium ? Mr. Snowden interrupted: "We have repeatedly stated that it is essential any settlement must provide for the restoration of Belgium's independence and reparation for the damage done!" Lord Robert Cecil continued: "That does nob cover Serbia. What about reparation for the -peaceful merchant vessels?" He certainly 'was not prepared to rule out reparation. It w»s ludicrous to enter into negotiations with Germany till the spirit characterising Hollweg's speech was exorcised. In order to ensure durable peace there must be annexations and tlio emancipation of enthralled peoples, and possibly the retention of strategic positions to safeguard the future. He did not believe there was any difference of opinion between England and the Russian democracy regarding war aims. If the Government could secure peace based on justice and chivalry, respect for obligations, and respect for the weak, it would gladly co-operate with any members of the House in erecting barriers against the recurrence of such a devastating war.

Received May 10, 12.1© a.m. London, May 17. In the House of Commons, alter further discussion, the' closur.e ivas carried by 238 to 32, and Mr. SUowden's amendment was negatived without a division.

THE CHANCELLOR'S SPEECH. SOMETHING DEFINITE WANTED. THREAT OF REVOLUTION. Amsterdam, May 18. Herr Bethmann Hollweg concluded his peace speech:—"Time is working for us. We are entitled to believe we are approaching the successful termination of the war. Then will be the moment to M-gotiate concerning war aims, regarding which I am in full accord with the supreme army command. Then we will win peace giving us liberty to reconstruct, by the powerful use of our forces, all that war has destroyed, so that from so much blood and so many sacrifices the realm and the people will emerge so strong and independent as to never be threatened by enemies, and be a protecting tower of peace and industry." Amsterdam, May 16.

A fuller report of the Reichstag debate shows that Herr Roesieke (Conservative) complained of the uncertainty of Germany's war aims. It seemed as if the Government was not convince:! that the country was determined to win a victftry. It would be terrible if the Chancellor went to a Peace Conference with a plan to abandon everything. They demanded the abandonment' of -all ideas of an international renunciatory peace. Herr Scheidemann (Socialist) said:— "We also want something definite. We oppose all the policy of conquest. Tlie Conservatives want to conquer the world. Thousands have been slaughtered against the people's will. You cannot achieve your purposes by throttling other nations." Herr Schiedemann aroused a tumult by declaring that the German policy of conquest would result in Germany being regarded as a nation of robbers and a gang of thieves. Loud protests were raised, many demanding Herr Schiedemann's removal.

Herr Ledebour (Socialist) subsequently in the debate caused a sensation in the House by declaring: "Tilings must happen in Germany as in Russia, we iuuet soon introduce a republic. We > 11 propose that the Constitutional Reform Committee take preparatory action to that end." -< It is noteworthy that German censorship deleted from the official wireless message the following ectract from Hon

von Bethmann-Hqlhveg's speech: "I will not be diverted fitani the proper path by Herr Schiedemann's threat of revolution. The German people will t'how that they do not understand such a word. 1 am not going t'o tolerate the suspicions that I side with the Social Democrats," The latest reports give Herr Schcidemaun's' actual words: "If France ah(> Britain renounce annexations and Germany insists thereon, we shall have a revolution in the land." Berne, May lfi. Count Reventlow demands that Germany should immediately declare war on every neutral continuing to trade with England. Ho also announces tliat the Pan-German League will support tho demand in a petition it is presenting to the Kaiser." FRENCH OPINION. I'ariß, May 1(1. The Journal says that Herr von Betli-mann-Hollweg's speech indicates a strengthening, at temporarily, of the German war party.