PEACE TALK.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 October 1918, Page 5

PEACE TALK.

MAX'S BLUFF. IKPOAAL TO SURRENDER UNCONDITIONALLY. Received Oct 23, 9 pjn. London, Oct 23. Ib the Reichstag Prince Max (the GhaaMte) stated that Germany refuses WMnftiHtional surrender. Germany is aatkMs to pease, but will continue to fight rather than accept peace by vio-Wsv-Coftod Service, "^ A-CLUMSY TRAP. tttfOCBCMTIONAL SURRENDER THE AHBWXR. Received Oct. 23, ESO pan. Washington, Oct 22. mudtni Wilson is not expected to Answer the German note until twentyf«w hours have elapsed. Senator Lodge, in a statement, says thai Germany's latest note is a clumsy trap Bterefy to involve the United States in diplomatic discussions. The note it varnished over with false flattery, and it is ineenceivable that anyone is taken in by it The only answer ought to be that Germany mast surrender unconditionally.—Aus. NX Cable 4sMoc> THE LAST SHUFFLE. BfflTlSH PRESS VIEWS, Seeeived Oct 23, 7.50 p.m. London, Oct. 22. The Star calls the note "the last ehnflle." Tha Westminster Gantte interprets the note as asking that the present military position he accepted as the limit to the Allies' victory and the basis for peace, and adds: This is wholly unlceeptabla."—United Service. V3RCE THE ONLY GUARANTEE. JAOII> GEORGE SHOULD SUM UP 188 POSITION. Recured Oct. 23, 1 a& pun, London, Oct. 22. -The Pall Mall Gazette eays that while the country admires President Wilson's skin in turning the enemy's tricks against themselves, it does not lose sight of the fact that force alone is the true guarantee of all we are fighting for. The point has been reached where it is hoped Mr. lioyd George will emn up the i position for the country's benefit Britain will naturally claim a leading voice in the naval terms of settlement, also in the disposal of the German colonies and the reparation of outrages on the atettaatile marine.—Ana. ~$Z. Cable Assoc 4K APT DB3CETPTIONI OF GERMAN HOIB. Becelved>'Oct 23, 160 pjri. Paris, Oct. 22. jt/Honune Libre says that t&e German reply is an evil scrap of paper impregnated with lying and VZ. Cable Assoc 4&E PRESIDENT'S FOURTEEN POINTS.? AMERICA'S PROGRAMME FOR THE WORLD'S PEACE..

In a message to Congress on Janu~ '•ry 8, Pratident Wilson said that Amerteals programme for the world's peace tU U follow*: 1. Open covenants of peace openly arrived at, after which there shall be no private international understandings of any kind, bnt diplomacy snail proceed always frankly and in the public view. 2. Absolute freedom of navigation upon the seas outside territorial waters, alike in peace and in war, except as tine teas may be closed in whole or in 4fcK bjf international action for the enforcement of international covenants. 8. The removal so far as possible of •all esotomie barriers, and the estabUtanteat af an equality of trade condi|Has amflftf all the nations consenting • tU 1 tfce MS) *»* associating them- - sat*** *B*i tt> Maintenance. ****** *" "

taken that national armaments will be reduced to the lowest point consistent with domestic safety. 5. A free, open-minded, and absolutely impartial adjustment of all colonial claims based upon a strict observance of the principle that in determining all such questions of sovereignty the interests of the populations concerned must have equal weight with the equitable claims of the Government whose title is to be determined. 6. The evacuation of all Russian territory and such a settlement of all questions affecting Russia as will secure the best and freest co-operation of the other nations of the world in obtaining for her an unhampered and unembarrassed opportunity for the independent determination of her own political development and national policy, and assure her of a sincere welcome into the society of free nations under institutions of her own choosing; and more than a welcome assistance also of every kind that she may need and may herself desire The treatment accorded Russia by her sister nations in the months to come will be the acid test of their goodwill, of their comprehension of her needs, as distinguished from their own interests and of their intelligent and unselfish sympathy. 7. Belgium, the whole world will agree, must be evacuated and restored without any attempt to limit the sovereignty which she enjoys in common with all other free nations. No 'other single act will serve as this will serve to restore confidence among the nations in the laws which they have themselves set and determined for the government of their relations with one another Without this healing act the whole structure and validity of international law is for ever impaired.

8. All French territory should be freed and the invaded portions restored, and the wrong done to France by Prussia in 1871 in the matter of Alsace-Lor-raine, which has unsettled the peace of the world for nearly fifty years, should be righted, in order that peace may once more be made secure in tie interest of an.

9. A readjustment of the frontiers of Italy should be effected along clearly recognisable lines of nationality.

10. The peoples of Austria-Hungary, whose place among the nations we wish to be safeguarded and assured, should be accorded the first opportunity to autonomous development. ill. Roumania, Serbia, and Montenegro should be evacuated, occupied territories restored, Serbia accorded free and secure access to the sea, and the relations of the several Balkan States to one another determined by friendly counsel along historicallyestablished lines of allegiance and nationality, and international guarantees of the political and economic independence and territorial integrity of the several Balkan states should be entered into.

12. The Turkish portions of the present Ottoman Empire should be assured a secure sovereignty, but the other nationalities which are now under Turkish rule should be assured an undoubted security of life and an absolutely unmolested opportunity of autonomous development, and the Dardanelles should be permanently opened as a free passage to the ships and commerce of all nations under international guarantees. 13. An independent Polish State should be erected which should include the territories inhabited by indisputably Polish populations which should be assured a free and secure access to the sea, and whose political and economic independence and territorial integrity should be guaranteed by international covenants.

14. A general association of nations mnst be formed under specific covenants for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political and territorial independence for great and small States alike.