The Daily News. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1917. BASIC PEACE CONDITIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 September 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1917. BASIC PEACE CONDITIONS.

The recent cable message setting forth Germany's basic peace conditions to which the Entente Powers must agrci-

before peace terms in general can ■' discussed, is a Striking sample of Teutonic bluff and effrontery. 'But for the extremely serious nature of the subject, the contents of this message would provoke derision and contempt. The first and last of the conditions set forth havu in reality nothing to do with peace, but aro intended as justifying Germany's part in the war, the marvel being that the last was not put lirst, and the first placed at the tail. Thero would then have been a semblance of logical sequence that fitted in with the deliberate tissue of false statements persisted in by the Kaiser and his subordinates in the endeavor to obliterate the real origin and object of Germany's mad plunge into a war of conquest and domination. It has pleased the great War Lord to declare that wicked Allies banded themselves together to crush Germany, so that they must admit this evil act by abandoning their intention., and they must emphasise the admission by still further acknowledging that Germany was not the sinner, but was sinned against in being forced into war—a truly Gilbertian •proposal which would certainly never taateriuiise. Although it is laid down Chat there must be no reparation, the question of indemnities is purposely omitted. Why? Germany made war for the sake of obtaining booty and power unci she means to keep all sho can. Herr Holhveg declared that Germany must fight and conquer, and only then would ehe declare her peace terms. That asBert.inn ...-any. The five

basic peace conditions set forth in the lata cable are mere empty phrases on j which the German people are to be fed J to keep them from worrying over more ' serious matters that might cause trouble | to the authorities. It is perfectly clear (l the Jlohenzollerns will light to the last i ditch rather than part with their power and privileges; they will surrender nothing unless forced, while the great war i lord regards democracy as an evil force 1 that should 'be consigned to the bottomloss pit. In President Wilson's roply to [ the Papal Note is expressed the views of the Allies, but with tho added force derivable from the neutrality of the presi- * dent, during the first two and a-itelf years of the war, and also from tho fact that the United States came into the war to save democracy for tho --soi-ld, und that is the cause which the Allies have championed and intend shall :be attained. They are fighting for cleaiocraey against despotism. It is Hohensollerism and all that it stands for that the Entente Powers intend to crlish and not Germany. The Prussian militarists know this only too well, and that is why the abandonment of tho intention to crush Germany is = ,put first in the basic peaco conditions, although the country and not the dynasty is mentioned. To arrive at peace terms tho fy-st and governing factor must necessarily be the consideration of what caused the war, for a remedy cannot be of use unless tlie nature of the disease is ascertained. Never was there a truer statement than that Germany engineered this terrible war with the object of imposing on the rest of tho world the yoke she has already fastened upon frer own people. Germany's policy of to-day is that o'f Bismarck fifty years ago, when he fortified Prussia against democracy by a series of wars deliberately planned and skilfully provoked at the chosen moments. The present war is the outcome of that policy which is the very essence of Germany' 6 military despotism and the only means for prolonging the existence of tho Ilolienzollerns. It must be remembered that the Government of Germany rests in {he hands of the lvaiser and the Chancellor. Tho Ministers have no power, and the Chancellor is responsible to the Kaiser alone. The present Chancellor recently stated that Gerjnany would be able to formulate peace terms before long. The Cluwe'lor is the Kaiser's mouthpiece, and it i., his duty to engineer success that reflects credit 011 his master. Thy vague and bombastic basic peace conditions- which have now come to light may be regarded as a direct challenge to the Allies and their aims. To talk of peace overtures to such an enemy as Germany iis at present governed is a sheer waste of breath. Peace caflnot be based on the restitution; of German power, and her howr j.existent. ißecent revelations fcav» t that Germany is a menace t'»t!i- notUU peace and freedom, and tht United States' has joined*«t'ie Allies, bringing the full weight of her vast resources into the scale, as well aSjtecisivo view; as to peace, the Powers arrayed against Prussian militarism mist nut. and will not, entertain any peace overtures until they ce:-qr.cr ;unj, as lioihveg- remarked, only then can iiiey declare their terms of peace. The fali of Riga has made tho German authorities take on an extra inflation of arrogance, but- this will subside, and in the light of grim eventualities the truth will ultimately be forced upon the German peopie that the fight is not against them, but against the arrogant despotism that will bring her rulers to the abyss that jawn-j before them, to defeat, and bankruptcy awl despair. Germany's aims are repugnant to civilisation and mu-; be j thwarted at any cost.