PEACE TALK.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 October 1918, Page 5

PEACE TALK.

PRESS COMMENTS. THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE PEACE. PUNISHMENT ADVOCATED. New York, Oct. 7. The New York Times says: The Cen-. li'al Powers must evacuate the occupied territories, restore to France and Italy the provinces taken from them, and tear up the Brest Litovsk and Bucharest i treaties before negotiations can be jstarted. j Tiie Herald says: There will be no armistice or negotiations until Germany prefaces her plea with unconditional surrender. The Chicago Tribune says: The Allies will fight until they get the peace they want. The Cincinnatti Inquirer says: The only acceptable peace will be dictated with the flags of the Allies flying over Berlin. The Washington correspondent of the New York World says: Washington i awaits the full facts before offering a definite opinion on the Austro-German peace move. The correspondent points out that nothing but the complete surrender of the Central Powers will be considered by the Allies. When Bulgaria wanted an armistice the Allies accepted the proposal on terms which amounted to Bulgaria's unconditional surrender. This, established a precedent for dealing with other peace mores. If Germany and Austria are willing to surrender on the Allies' terms it is possible the war may be brought to an early close. While high officials would not venture an opinion in the absence of the text of Prince Maximilian's speech, it was made clear that if the Central Powers want peace before their territory is invaded and laid waste they must unconditionally surrender. Many strong men in Washington and the Allies' capitals are opposed to suspending hostilities on any terms, even if named by the Allies, but want to. push the war across the enemy frontiers and administer punishment for the crimes committed by the Germans and their associates in the war. If Germany, Austria, and Turkey are ready to surrender their arms and withdraw from the occupied territory, President Wilson may consent to arrange an armistice and discussion of a general peace. The United Press' Washington correspondent reports that Mr. McAdoo stated that the United States will Tefuse the Central Powers' peace offer.

Tlie New York World comment": Autocracy is whipped and knows it is whipped. It will soon be compelled to acknowledge the fact, therefore autocracy we shall hear from again and again with increasing humility, \intil finally it sues for terms. The Tribune says: The Kaiser has but one peace to make, that is with God. We shall continue to use force and more force against Germany until we shall have destroyed for ever the intolerable criminal thing that is now holding out its dripping hand. WILSON'S PROBABLE , REPLY. Washington, Oct. 7. The Swedish Minister delivered the Austrian Note, which is m similar terms to the German Note, to Mr. Lansing at 11 a.m. President Wilson is preparing a prompt reply to Germany. It is understood that Mr. Wilson will refuse to consider negotiations on the basis of a round table, conference, but, if Germany sincerely accepts Mr Wilson's terms and agrees to evacuate immediately the invaded territory, Mr./ Wilson is likely to consider the door open to the consideration of peace.—Aus. NZ. Cable Assoc.

AMERICAN SENATE'S VIEWS. Washington, Oct. 7. 1 In the Senate debate on peace, Senator Poindexter said that an armistice accompanied by the enemy evacuation of Belgium and France would be merely a Ger|man victory. Senator Hitchcock, chairman of the Foreign delations Committee, pointed out that Germany was willing to accept President Wilson's 14 points. If the Germans agreed to restore Alsace-Loraine to Franco arid pay an indemnity to Belgium the matter might be worth considering. Senator McCumber pointed out that it was necessary to safeguard the Senate's rights in peace and war discussions. Senator Hitchcock declared that the idea of an .armistice was absolutely abhorrent. He suggested that the Allies agree to deal only with the representatives of the German people. Senator Lodge said the only future possible for Germany was that based on her suing for peace from the Allies. An Allied military victory was essential. The tone of tlie debate indicates the rejection of the peace offer. Senator McCumber. in the Senate, introduced a resolution providing that before the United States will agree to an armistice- Germany must disband her armies, restore Alsace-Lorraine, repay the Franco-German 1870 indemnity, and , indemnify the ravaged countries throughout Europe. Senator Nelson suggested that the question of an armistice was not for I American' consideration. If Germany wanted an armistice let her apply to General Foch, as Bulgaria did.

CANADA DENOUNCES THE MOVE. Ottawa, Oct. 7. ; The Canadian press unanimously rejects the possibility of peace negotiations, except on the basis of Germany* complete surrender. It denounces the peace move as merely an attempt to deceive President Wilson into bringing pressure on the 'Allies.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. I SENSIBLE VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT. New York. Oct. 7. A telegram from Bismarck, North Da'kota, says that Mr. Roosevelt declares it lis impos'sible to consider a peace made in Germany. It would be better to sacrifice tine last mart and the last dollar than to allow Germany to dictate to the United States. The New York Times comments on we peace move: "If Germany wants peace slie must do away with the irresponsible braggart Kaiser, and speak through a Government of the people to the Alheci peoples. It is not from Prince Maximilian, answerable only to the Imperial authority, that Germany's plea must come. A question which must be askea is whether the peace overtures proposed hv Germany and Austria would bring a peace of righteousness and permanence or Would leave Imperial irarepentant, harboring plans for evri, and Waiting the next favorable occasion for £TJJW upon *»J»*toß <* *$ Wttyß-fiu., N.Z. OablejAs*

EXCITEMENT IN BERLIN. A MIXED RECEPTION. Received Oct- 8, 7.40 p.m. Amsterdam, Oct. 7. Popular excitement has been aroused in Berlin over Prince Max's speech. . It is reminiscent of the early days of the war. Crowds occupied the streets and eagerly discussed the speech. The press gives the speech a mixed reception. The Vossiselie Zeitung describes it as "a political error." The Tageblatt says that Prince Max represents the majority of the Reichstag, which never desired a warlike adventure and the suppression of the neighboring States. The Loka! Anzeiger says the responsibility that is resting on President Wilson is the heaviest that has ever weighed on a single man since the beginuing of the world.—Times ..Service. Received Oct. 8, 11.40 p.m . Copenhagen, Oct. 7. The majority of Berlin newspapers are dissatisfied with the peace proposals. The Lokal Anzeiger says that two of .President Wilson's points must be rejected, {namely, the separation of AlsaceLorraine from Germany and the independence of Poland. President Wilson's speech of September 27 was bnly published in Germany on Saturday. ■" Berne, Oct. 7. The Fatherland Party decided to resist the Chancellor's offer to the utmost. They have arranged a meeting of protest.—Reuter.

| "NO ANNEXATIONS AND NO ! INDEMNITIES." WHAT THE HUN .WOULD-LIKE. Received Oct. S, 7.40 p.m. Amsterdam, Oct. 7. Advices from Vienna state that an explanatory semi-official statement cm< phasises that the peace offer is the logical outcome of the development of ideas in favor of no annexations and no indemnities, a League of Nations, no economic war after the war, and the freedom of the seas—Reuter. FRENCH VIEWS. t l \ THE CRUX OF THE QUESTION. Paris, Oct. 7. M. Clemenceau, in an interview, stated that Prince Max forgets that President Wilson laid down not only fourteen points, but equally emphasised that America would never deal with the autocratic government of the Hohenzollerns. "Does the Chancellor think this phantom government of comical democratic aspect meets this condition or will convince President Wilson that he is asked !to deal with a Government subject to parliamentarv control? i "Prince Max forgets that President [Wilson's points are conditional on his hai'ing confidence in those making the peace proposals." Newspapers scornfully reject the proposals and declare that Germany does not accept Presidcn'; Wilson's points, but merely proposes to take them as a basis of discussion. The Kaiser determined three months ago to impose German domination on the world. Count von Hertling declared a fortnight ago that Germany would fight oh and not ask for peace. Now the debacle has come the Kaiser is asking for peace, hoping to avoid disaster. The Allies will not stop fighting while a single German soldier is on Allied soil. Before Germany is granted an armistice she must give pledges similar to those the Allies exacted from Bulgaria.

win the war first. Received Oct. 8, 5.5 p.m. Washington, Oct. 7. In the Senate debate, Mr. London said it was impossible to conceive that President Wilson would agree to the German overtures. The mischief would be irretrievable if the United States started to debate instead of winning the war.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. THE ANSWER TO THE KAISER. Do you remember, Kaiser Wilhelm, Four long awful years ago, When in wilful pride and arrogance Yon struck that dastard blow? Struck that blow against humanity With your treacherous flag unfurled That has made your name a bye-tford To the nations of the world! Just remember, Kaiser Wilhelm, How you boasted of that day, When a torn and broken Europe Should for ever own your sway. How you threw aside your honor, Theu broke every human pledge As through that murdered Belgium You drove your mighty wedge. Just recall the countless children. Mothers, that you have slain, Those' you murdered by the thousand, In that city of Louvain; Then turn your .thoughts* Oh Kaiser, To that land you drenched with blood Till those French and British heroes. Turned back your Hunnish flood, You broke all tics of human law , On the land and on the sea, That as master 'of a dream world i You might for ever be; Then boasted in your arrogance In your great and sinful pride that nothing on this earth of ours Could stay the German tide. But when you threw the gauntlet down And boasted of that day That should see a German Europe ■Neath the Hohenzollern sway; Yes, as you dreamed of world power, Master of the earth and waves— You forgot one potent factor, "Britons never shall be slaves." Yet we in this sea-girt island Had known for long, long past, That though it came but slowly Your day would come at last. Full well we know when manhood struck With all its might and power ' That the sun would set for ever On the Hohenzollern hour. Kaiser, your day is coming But it's not tllie day you sought, And you'll pay the price of vengeance On the misery you've wrought. For this is the oath we've token On the wings of the wind its hmrUd, "That never again till Eternity d&witti, Shall the Hfin bring menace to the* world." Konii<OetoJj&r-tt

THE GERMAN MENACE. MAKING AN END OF IT. Received Oct. 8, 7.40 p.m. London, Oct. 7. The Times, in a leader, says no doubt Prince Max sincerely desires peace. He discerns defeat and appreciates the consequences, but he does not appreciate the unalterable determination of the Allies to make an end of the menace to civilisation. The Allies are determined that there will be no peace until Germany surrenders to terms which leave her not merely without the will but powerless to trouble mankind. The Morning Post and Daily Express emphasise that Germany will not receive peace until she accepts the Allies' terms. —Times Service. THE PEACEFUL PRINCE. SHOWN UP IN HIS TRUE COLORS.

Received Oct. 8, 7.40 p.m. Berne, Oct. 7. A letter which. Prince Max wrote to Prince Hohenlohe in December of last year throws a singular light on the mentality of the Chancellor, who poses as the head of democratised Germany. The letter declared: "Newspapers on the left are overpowering me with praises, although I condemned plainly enough the democratic watchword and all theoretical and political formulae comprised in the word 'Parliamentarisation.'" In the same letter, referring to the Reichstag's peace resolution, he says:— "Naturally, I desire the comprehensive political exploitation of our military successes. lam also an opponent of the abominable peace resolution, which is the fruit of fear. I am anxious that we should dbtain the amplest reparations possible, whatever form they take, In order to save us from impoverishment after the war."—-Rented