The Daily News. MONDAY, AUGUST 20, 1917. CENTRAL POWERS ANGLING FOR PEACE.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 August 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, AUGUST 20, 1917. CENTRAL POWERS ANGLING FOR PEACE.

Wo have lately received a large amount of cable news concerning the projected eonferenco at Stockholm, supposedly pro- . tooted by Socialists in the interests of peace. It is extremely probable that if this movement were traced to its source it would be found in the familiar phrase "Made in Germany." Although the Russian Workers' and Soldiers' Council is credited with initiating tho idea of a peace conference of Socialists at Stockholm, we cannot lose sight of the fact that) this body of Russian enthusiasts hare been the especial fostering care of German agents, to whom the present Russian troubles are due. The,' German authorities have for a long time past been encouraging the Socialists to engineer an international peace campaign, and so transparent was this device that there grew a widespread belief that the real aim was to construct a cunning trap wherein to catch the Allies. From the outset tho idea of British represeiita- J tion afc the proposed Stockholm Conference was scouted by all except tlie extremists of the Labor party, for it was perfectly plain that any peace terms which commended themselves to such a gathering would be unthinkable from the Allies' standpoint. It was all very -well to propose a peace without annexations and indemnities with the sole object of speedily terminating tho war for thetime being and paving the way for a more awful struggle in tho future, but it could certainly not be expected that Jrtiat may bo termed tho lawless element would be able to make satisfactory peace terms. That the proposal lias practically fallen through is not surprising; but the Central Bowers had another string to their bow, the result being that the Pope has been induced to open peace negotiations by stating his views of a basis on which a conference could be held. Here, again, Teutonic .influence is apparent, and it is hardly likely that ,liis Holiness will succeed any better than the Socialists. In a recent pronouncement by the British Government it was pointed out that a, brntal war was forced on the Allies when they were totally unprepared. I hev are now fully prepared and equipped. Germany knows this, and is. moving heaven and earth to avoid her 'just punishment. It has been decided, by the Allies that thr-ro csji -be no pence with Germany until Prussian militarism has been completely uprooted.