FRANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 January 1918, Page 5

FRANCE.

THE CAILLAUX CASE, DETAILS OF TREjtJwfiRY. AMAZING REVELATIONS, London, Jan. 17. The Daily Chronicle's Milan correspondent wire's that with, it is understood, tile connivance of Germany, General Sarrail and .11. Caillaux organised a fictitious offensive, culminating in a German offer of peace to France. Thereupon beIgan otiieial pourparlers in virtue of secret j preliminary agreement, whereby Germany wasi to cede a small portion of Lorraine in consideration of a pledge that France would immediately sever all connection with Britain. France was then to constitute, with Italy, a Latin bloc, -which would conclude a formal pact with the Central Powers with the object of forming ft aingle federation of European State?, whence England and Rusisa alone were to be excluded. France and Italy should rather aim at an understanding with Germany, France Ueing content to return to the status quo and Italy foregoing her major pretensions against Austria. The Giolittian organ and other newspapers were actively advocating these' schemes. This damning dossier has been lying for a year in q, locker at a Florentine hank hired by Madame Caillaux, and opened by the Italian authorities upon the request of the French Government. The contents were taken to Rome under an escort of military police, where each document was copied and photographed, and copies were forwarded to Captain Bourchardon, who is eoliecting evidence in Paris against M. Caillaux. It is estimated that the jewels discovered are worth £-25,000. II Secolo points out that the amazing revelations tally with If. Caillaux' propaganda of 1917 among Italian politicians, wherein he urged that the war was simply n struggle for world dominion between England and Germany, and that the interest* of France and Italy were diametrically opposed to Britain's triumph. Paris, .Tan. 17. M. Caillaux demanded to be treated as a political prisoner, and .so allowed an extra mattress, two blankets, and an arm chair, also meals from a restaurant.