PEACE TALK.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1918, Page 5

PEACE TALK.

PROPOSALS RIDICULED. insincerity apparent. London, Sept. 16. -Newspapers generally ridicule the peace oilers, though they point out that 2. w Austria 's on her last legs. There are really three separate overtures Apart from the Austrian olive branch, Germany proposes that all the Powers should withdraw their troops from the Murman coast, the trick lvin» V! e J** that the Allies are well" established on the Murman coast, while no Germans are within many miles. The second effort is a definite peace offer to Belgium. It includes no indemnity and no reparation, only the cessation of hostilities and evacuation if Belgium consents to remain neutral till the end of the war. Germany realises that ® "J" 61 so °n withdraw from Belgium, and if Germany can obtain a treaty which bars Belgian territory to the Allies troops and aircraft, it will add enormously to the difficulties of attacks against German territory and cities. One of the strangest proposals is that much-injured Belgium should act as a •ort of mediator between her present , allies and Germany with the object of securing the restoration of the German colonies. The consideration offered Belgium is the re-establishment of her economic and political independence after the waj, and that her old economic treaties with Germany will be renewed. The proposal adds that the Flemish question must be considered, and that the Flemish minority, which aided the German invaders, shall not be penalised. The Amsterdam correspondent of the Daily Chronicle writes: The Austrian proposal for a peace conference was first seriously considered at the recent imposing meeting at German headquarters. Indeed, it was the only subject diseussed at any length. The Austrian demand for peace proposals was so insistent that the German Government had to give an unwilling consent. The Germans also acted in the hope thai such proposals might have an effect upon Entente pacifists, whom the German Government credit with having great influence. They also thought the proposals might hswe an effect on the British general election. Knowing the Austro-Hungarian proposal was coming, the German Government set about the ta&k of queering whatever chance such a step might have After a long conversation at headquarters as to terms, Herr von Payer's speech was fixed with a solid backbone of panGennanfcm. Von Payer talked nb>nt Belgium's guilt, and his assertion that Germany was the attacked party and ™e proposal that the Entente shalj not interfere with the Brest Litovsk peace treaty make tile Austro-Hungarian move useless The Kaiser's blatant pomposity and insufferable arrogance at Essen show the insincerity of tie whole business.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. THE REAL OBJECT. TO GAIN TIME FOP, REORGANISATION. MENTALITY OF ENEMIES CHANGED London, Sept. 18. Tie Daily Telegraph states that the Austrian proposals are absurd and insincere. Tie real object is to eam time JOT reorganisation of the shattered icereea. Accordingly Anatro-Germany is parting tins bote of contention, hoping to create a division of feeling in Allied cirdes. We must first find a repentant and contrite Germany before we can hope to enter the comncil chamber to disenss peace. The Daily Chronicle states that the, three cJoaely related incidents during tile .veek-end iweal more vividly even that tie Kaiser's hectic oration the changed mentality of our enemies owing to the influence of the AUied victories. It is certain t3m.t all three proposals will he rejected. -That they were made concurrently is proof that the Central Empire are in a very bad way. The free nations of the world are determined to hold together until the sinister menace of militarism is finally removed and the prestige of Germany shattered. The Daily Express states: They that drew tire eword are seeking to save themselves from perishing l>y the sword. Tbere can be no peace until Germany admits her offences against civilisation. While she wants to shake hands and be friends, her U-boats sink the Galway Castle and her crew and passengers are added to the long list of murdered civilians. The Daily News remarks that responsible and sober-minded men sfhoold face squarely Austria's proposals. Those >vho are the most convinced enemies of secret diplomacy must be constrained to admit that peace will never be achieved through interchanges launched across continents from public platforms. There is no solid ground oij which as statesmen sincerely zealous for peace we can justly reject the Austrian proposals. Tho Allies have everything to gain and nothing to lose by discussion.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. AMERICAN VIEWS. AMERICA'S ANSWER ALREADY GIVEN. Washington, Sept. 16. Mr. Taft, commenting on the Austrian peace proposals, said they are not only laughable, bat ridiculous.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. New York, Sept. 16. The Tribune, commenting on the peace offer, says the answer to Austria is ready in President Wilson's speech, when he said: "Force, force to the utmost, without stint and limit." The large majority of tie press comments throughout the country may be summarised ag: "Austria-Germany and their allies must be beaten until they surrender unconditionally." The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says that force without stint until victory is achieved, and the rejection of the Vienna overtures, will be America's response. Officiate *re awaiting the receipt of Austria's message before commenting. Ihe n»jo.ity of the members of Congwsa who were interviewed said: "This is bo Um for a peace conference. The (tateal Fowem must be forced to uncondttiaMl nmato* Uk» WidMßßfraw MWispentai of tiu> BlH>i ffltHf 1 ijrMj flit toft fluUnirtfTi

that the Government will reject the AusAssoc PeßCe proposal '~ Aus - N.Z. Cable +ll Th f ew York Times, commenting on rnm't nan , PeaCe ° ffer ' Sft y S: Th(l offer W,w a Whidl ihe AUies tC ft bly .,f c , cept in tlle confident belief Mat it will lead to the end of the war. f^™ 1 C " sto,n of lmtiona tle " land tluit this invitation be received with the most serious respect and attention by the Governments addressed. > „ ew ork ?erald says: The peace t J >^ er _ c °Mes sooner' than expected. Austria is the eatspaw of Germany, and tlie _ Allies answer will be a decisive. ne«a- , tive. A peace conference will be possible a only after the Central Powers have been ' decisively defeated. The World declares: Vienna has sent a proposal for a peace conference, whitfli will not be more favorably received than the previous proposals. Negotiations are impossible while the responsible leaders of Prussian militarism are almost as boastful and false as ever.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. AMERICA'S ANSWER, , i ; WILL NOT BE DRAGGED INTO ENEMY'S WEB. j [ Received Sept. 17, 2.50 p.m. 1 , Washington, Sept. 16. Mr. Lansing made a statement that 1 the President will reply to the Austrian s note refusing a conference. | The 'President says the United States has repeatedly and with candour stated ( the terms on which she is prepared to consider peace, and will entertain no proposal for a conference upon a matter upon which America, has already made its position and purposes so plain.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. Mr. Lansing said that the Government feels ihe foregoing is the only reply it , can make to Austria's suggestion. ' j Received Sept. 17, 11 p.m. • [ Washington, Sept, 16. j Not having received the Austrian peace , , note, the State Department is unwilling , ,to indicate America's attitude. . ■ , Mr. Taft, as the head of a league to . enforce peace, has called a meeting to ; diseoßß the offer.—Ana-N-Z. Cable As- , r somtion. ; Received Sept. 17, 8.5 p.m. • New York, Sept. 10. - With the exception of the New York . . Times, the American press stresses the r impossibility of considering t&e Austrian pea«e offer. Official circles refrain from expressing . t an opinion until the President has . digested the note from Vienna, but it is I understood there is not the slightest t doubt the reply will he but a reitera- . 1 tion of President Wilson's appeal to , t force and "nothing hut force" as a means . 3 of imposing the Allies' wifl upon the s enemies. It is felt that Austria is merely flying 1 Germany's peace kite. The United > States is not willing to be taken ia by i. insincere promises as to future good, behaviour. The general belief is that the American advance at St. Mxhiel led to Austria's action. NOT A YARD NEARER PEACE. UTTERLY DIVERGENT AIMS. j ) j ENEMY HYPOCRISY EXPOSED. I ; MR. BALFOUR'S INSPIRING SPEECH 1 1 ( ' Received Sept. 17, 7.25 p.m. 1 London, Sept. 16. i Sir Charles Lucas presided at the Co- ] ' lonial Institute luncheon to the overseas journalists. < ; _ Ba lfaur, supporting the toast of ' . Guests," said the Empire was one | w spirit hfeore the war, but had ; a new degree of unity since. ' "Common sacrifices, made on a scale | wholly unimaginable before the war, have cemented us in a closer unity thaji ever. Notfhing that can ooeur can ever dissolve it.'' t Referring to tie Austrian peace proposal, he said he had had no opportunity of consulting his colleagues, and there- 1 fore what he said must be taken ag an I individual utterance. The calamities im- I posed on mankind by the continuance of i •hostilities were so overwhelming that he I would never treat with disrespect any < proposal from a responsible quarter, yet 4 he could not honestly say the proposals i now made offered the slightest hope of ] the attainment of peace. , Austria suggeets conversations with- j out the cessation of hostilities, but under j the conditions now prevailing he was ut- , terly unahle to see how conversations i could be profitably initiated. Personally he could see nothing acceptable in tlhe ' present proposals. During the past four years the Germans had not made anything deserving of being called a peace . proposition. J ''Before we reach the irresponsible conversation stage," continued Mr. Balfour, "the're are bigger questions to be determined, and on these there seems to be no likelihood of an agreement at present. What is the use, then, of entering into conversations wihen Germany is going to demand the return of her colonies? Here is a point whereon there can be no misunderstanding. Germany stands at one point; we stand at the other. It is impossible to conceive any conversation that would bridge a difference so deep as to restore to Germany t those populations she misused, or return J naval bases which give her control of 3 communications between parts of the British Empire, as well as between the civilised nations of the world. ( '■The Germans last week said they , would not give up any part of German territory. How, then, are conversations , going to deal with Alsace-Lorraine? ! Also, Germany is about to determine the i terms of servitude she is to impose on , Eastern neighbors. That is an exploit . no irresponsible conversations will ex- ' plain away." Until the Emperor, the Chancellor, and 1 ! the Reichstag were prepared to show an [ open mind in conformity with what the » Allies believe to be the cause of justice, civilisation, and right, he ventured to > «ay mere conversations would be frait- ; less. The public of the Entente couii- ! tries were passionately desirous of peace, s but they were not so stupid as some* of their critics in the Central Powers Bup- ! Jpose. 'We are, therefore, forced to the conclusion that the enemy knows ' ■ there is no chance of the proposals being - > accepted, but hoped they might do some- ) thing to divide the Allies and weaken • their co-ordinated effort to victory, , which ia showing itself on every front. * Jt certainly is not an honest desire to .igndsra at

whidli it is possible to use or accept. "The enemy's efforts will not produce division amongst the Allies. Never in the world's history has there been a coalition animated by so strong a desire for the common good as the present coalition of the Allies. We will not be victims of the clumsy German diplomacy. Even though he dresses himself in President Wilson's colors tfte mailed fist always appears. His policy will never take in the simplest of our countrymen. The Austrian proposal will not take us a yard nearer peace." Mr. George Fenwick, managing director of the Otago Daily Times, New Zealand, thanked Mi'. Balfour for his inspiring speech. He hoped Germany would be compelled to pay indemnities to the fullest measure. GERMAN VIEWS. INCONSISTENT UTTERANCES. Beceived Sept. 17, 7.25 p.m. Amsterdam, Sept. 18. German newspapers dissociate Germany from Austria's action, and consider the Note will merely strengthen the pacifists among the Central Powers, 'fhey anticipate an Entente rejection, which will be furtiher proof of the enemy being responsible for the prolongation of the war. Danish newspapers do not believe the manifesto improves peace prospects. ( FRENCH OPINION. AUSTRIA BUT TESTING THE ! GROUND. Received Sept. 17, 7.25 p.m. Paris, Sept. 18. The Austrian peace proposals are regarded as the outcome of the Allied successes. It is the general opinion that Prance, Britain, and America will refuse the offer, but there is speculation whether tihe Allies will seize the occasion to address the peoples of the four hostile countries direct rather <*».n through their rulers. Le Journal says the offer is a confession of weakness. LHomme Libre says that our victorious forces are driving out the invaders. We shall not allow them to lay down tfheir arms. Lc Petit Journal says that Austria is now testing the ground. If the test fails, Germany will disavow connection, therewith. Le Matin says that such an oiwicrns peace comedy will deceive nobody. The North German Gazette state? that the German Government will ba ready and glad, without delay, to participate in the discussions suggested by Austro-Hnngary.