PEACE TALK.
THE ENEMY PROPOSALS. GERMANY WANTS HER COLONIES BACK. WISHES TO RETAIN HER EASTERN POSITIONS. Amsterdam, Sept. 13. Speaking at Stuttgart, the Vice-Chan-ccllor, Von Payer, outlined the German peace terms. He declared that Germany could not hand over Poland again to Russia, nor assist in placing Finland again under Russian yoke. Germany could not allow the states on the German frontier and the Baltic to be again subjected against their will to Russian Tsarism or thrown into civil war and anarchy. Germany would not submit to the Entente her peace treaties with Ukraine, Russia and Roumania. Apart from this, the territorial possessions existing before the war could everywhere be restored. The preliminary condition for Germany and the allies was the restoration of all territory they possessed on the tenth of August, 1914. Germany must therefore firstly receive back heir colonies, .fconccirning which the idea of exchange on grounds of expediency need not be excluded.
The Germans, as soon as peace was concluded, could evacuate the occupied regions. They could restore Belgium, if Germany and her allies again possessed what belonged to them, and if Germany was sure that in Belgium no other state would be more favorably placed than ■ she, then Belgium could be restored without encumbrance and without reserve.
Germany was deeply convinced that as the innocent and attacked party she was entitled to indemnification but the prosecution of war to that point would cost her such a heavy sacrifice implaca-. ble by money that she preferred on calm reflection, Respite her favorable military situation, to abandon this idea, quite apart from the fact that forcibly urging compensation would inevitably jeopardise the future peace. Von Payer declared that Germany was ready to collaborate regarding the league of nations, arbitration and disarmament. Germany desired disarmament on the basis of'complete reciprocity, applied not merely to the armies but navies. Germany demanded freedom of seas and the sea routes, also the open door in all oversea possessions and protection of privato property at sea. AUSTRIAN PEACE PEELERS. OFFICIAL CIRCLES SUSPICIOUS! New York, Sept. 12. The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says that official circles are suspicious of the motives of Count Burian's peace conference suggestions to Austrian journalists. The opinion is that the most startling feature in the statement is the frank doubtit expresses of the possibility of a German victory. When it is recalled what happened to Herr von Kuhlmann, officials declare it is a confession of weakness which no German statesmen could make and retain a portfolio. Count Burian's peace feeler will fall on deaf ears here. Members of the administration realise that one of the greatest dangers to a just peace is the possibility of the Allies being inveigled into premature peace parleys with an unconquercd and arrogant enemy.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.
The statement made by Count Bur inn, referred to above, was as follows:
Renter's Amsterdam correspondent states that Count Burian, in a strongly pacifist speech to German journalists visiting Vienna, contended that the belligerents' efforts to attain their respective war aims did not justify the huge sacrifices still necessary. Therefore he suggested that their adversaries should provide an opportunity for a calm exchange of views. He believed some sort of direct informative discussion was possible which in no wise would be peace negotiations. He exhorted the pressmen to cultivate these views.—Renter.
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Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1918, Page 7
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557PEACE TALK. Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1918, Page 7
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