UNITED STATES.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 January 1918, Page 5

UNITED STATES.

PEACE PARLEYS. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE TO CONGRESS, POSITION PULL OF PERPLEXITY. SOME PERTINENT ENQUIRIES. deceived Jan. 10, 1.53 a.m. New York, Jan. 0. President Wilson delivered tlie following message to Congress: "Once more, as repeatedly before, the spokesman of the Central Empires lias indicated liis desire to discuss the objects of the. war and the possible basi-j of a general peace. Parleys have been in progress at Brest Litovsk between representatives of the Central Powers, to which the attention of all the belligerents is invited, for the purpose of ascertaining whether it is possible to extend the parleys into a general conference with regard to terms of peace and settlement. The Russian representatives have presented not only a definite statement of the principles upon which ihey are willing to conclude peace, but also; an equally definite programme of the concrete application of these principles. The representatives of the Central Powers presented an outline of settlement which, if mieli less definite, seems susceptible to liberal interpretation. lentil their specific programme of practical terms was added, that programme proposed no concessions either to the sovereignty of Russia or preference to the populations with whose fortunes it dealt, but meant that the Central Empires were to keep every foot of the. territory their armed force occupied, every province, every city, every point of vantage, as a permanent addition to their territories and power. It is reasonable to conjecture that the central principles of the settlement which' they first suggested originated with the more liberal statesmen of Germany and Austria, men who began to feel the forces of their own peoples' thought and purpose, while the concrete terms of actual settlement came from military leaders who had no thought but to keep what they got.

The negotiations have been broken off. The Russian representatives were sinceie, and in earnest. They cannot entertain such proposals of conquest and domination. The whole incident ia full of significance, also full of perplexity. With whom are the Russian representatives dealing? For whom arc the representatives of the Central Powers speaking? Are they speaking for the majorities of their respective parliaments, or the minority parties—that military, imperialistic minority which has so far dominated their whole policy and controlled the affairs of Turkey and (he Balkan States, which felt obliged to become their associates in this war.

PEACE TERMS. AS OUTLINED BY PRESIDENT. Washington, Jan. S. Addressing Congress, President Wilson outlined a definite world peace progiamme on the basis laid down by Mr. Lloyd George. He recommended that the peace terms should include absolute fieedom of the sea<s, disarmament, selfdetermination by nations ot their future affinities, and international free trade. He also insisted on the evacuation and restoration of Belgium, Rou. mania) herbia, and France, evacuation of Russian territory now under Teuton' occupation, and readjustment of Italy's lines of nationality. A world peace must be based on diplomacy free from eecrecv. America had the fullest goodwill towards Russia. The wrong done to Alsace and Lorraine must be righted. Plebiscites should decide the future of German colonies, and Austria-Hungary should have the opportunity of autonomous development. , President Wilson, continuing, said the Dardanelles must be permanently opened and the independence of Poland secured. An association of nations must be formed for the purpose of enforcing all covenants. America will continue the light till a just and stable peace is assured. Received Jan. !), 5.5 p.m. Mr. Wilson demanded open peace agreements on the subject of trade equality and armament reduction, lie reiterated the views expressed by Ml'. Lloyd George.