PEACE TALK.
THtf GERMAN RjEPLY., \ '•I'TTERLY UNSATISFACTORY." TAILS -TO-EECOGNISE FACTS. 'London, Oct. 22. A Cabinet Council considered the German .reply, but it technically concerns the United States only, so no public pronouncement has been made. The impression is that the reply 13 utterly unsatisfactory. It amounts to a "mere quibble and fails to recognise Germany's military defeat. Military men scoff at the idea that the actual standard of power on both sides shall form the basis of the armistice. They point out that the first basis of strategy is to conceal military strength. Naval opinion favors ,1 demand for the surrender of all U-boats prior to an armistice
Newspapers generally regard Germany's reply as due to the desire to gain time. It shows no sign that she is ready to accept the Allies' terms, but rather hopes to gain an armistice on the termn of military status quo. Such an armistice would, stop the flow of Americans across the Atlantic, and meanwhile Germany would be recuperating. The My Chronicle states that Dr. Solf's proposal represents one stage along the downward pathway of surrender, which he desires to make gradual. We Jo not know whether President Wilson will continue the interchange of notes by himself or prefer now' to associate the with future results. At any rate he is not likely to be easily satisfied.
The Daily News says that if 'Prcsidont Wilson regards the reply as sufficient he will submit the appeal for an armistice and the naval and military auhorities will indicate the guarantees required. These guarantees will furnish a practical test of the sincerity of the demand and the present power of the military rulers. The Daily News urges the Allies to be armed for any emergency. It is uro-enly necessary to coordinate the Entent's political front. It also declares that a section of the press in playing the German game in hinting that the European Allies must have their own policyThe Daily Telegraph thinks it is time to end the negotiation, which can bring no result while Germany 13 in her present mood.
Military opinion considers that the reply indicates that the German High Command takes a more optimistio view of the situation of its armies than when the rejuest for an armistice wa9 launched. The retirement so far has not been disorderly, and the enemy believes he has now reached a line where he will be able to halt temporarily, and thus for the time being stave off final defeat.
Colonel Repington writes that from the British viewpoint the peace guarantee must first 'be naval and then colonial We have suffered too much from the enemy's lawlessness and inhumanity at sea to grant an armistice, leaving him power to renew his depredations. The dominions will unanimously refuse to permit the German flag to reappear in any colonial territory v;hich their arms have conquered.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.
VJCTORY WITHIN REACH. THE ONLY POSSIBLE PEACE. London, Oct. 22. The King, in a stirring address to the British, French, Italian and Belgian in-ter-parliamentary delegates, said victory was within reach, smd we were all agreed it must be complete and decisive. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AMERICAN VIEWS. UNANIMOUS DISAPPROVAL. New York, Oct. 22. The New York Times, commenting on the German Note, says: "The reply reads false and is colored with those deceptions and hypocrisy we have come to regard as inseparable from the processes of the German mind. In making denials of its crimes the German Government is guilty of flagrant falsehoods. Germany will be compelled to complete her j6urney to the point of full surrender."
The New York Times Washington correspondent says: It is pointed out in well-informed quarters that there is nothing in the German Note that guarantees Germany's good faith in democratising her constitution. Officials generally consider the Note does not afford a basis upon which the Allies can enter on peace negotiations- The Note is variously characterised as "cunningly devised," "shifty," "equivocal" and "subtle.'
The press of New York and other cities generally considers that Germany knows she w beaten, but is willing to surrender at the present stage. All papers agree that the Note is un-satisfactory.—Aub.-K.Z. Cable Assn. LUDENDORFF ADVOCATES A GAMBLE. London, Oct. 22. The Amsterdam correspondent of the Daily Chronicle says that information from Germany shows that Ludendorff is playing a strong hand with considerable military support and the threat of a eoup-d'etat. Ludendorff told the Government that the army is carrying out an orderly retreat and that cannot be the retreat of a beaten army. The new line will be in a position to influence events.
Ludendorff and Hindenburg are at variance. HindeYiburg approves of the peaco move, but Ludendorff, who (halfheartedly supported it, is now inclined to place everything at hazard again. This attitude is supported by flaming appeals from various organisations, from the Navy League to the Socialist trade unions, all condemning peace at any price. There are indications that the Germans consider the Antwerp-Mctz line over-long, and are likely to take up the Liege, Namur, Montmedy, Metz position. Troops are already arriving at Antwerp > en route to &Z. &&L* M \
A DRASTIC PROPOSAL,
TO TOP NEGOTIATIONS TILL UNCONDITIONA L SURRENDER. Washington, Oct. 22. Senator Poindexter introduced a joint resolution proposing that Congress shall forbid further negotiations by the United States with Germany until the German forces surrender unconditionally.
The resolution further calls for the prosecution of the war with the utmost vigor, and the occupation and control of such German territory as can be obtained by force until the peace negotiations are concluded. The resolution declares it unlawful for any official of the American Government to answer any inesage, note, or representation from Germany on the subject of peace or an armistice.
The resolution has been referred to the Foreign Relations Committee. State Department officials believe that the wireless German Note does not represent the exact official text.
Unofficial comment on the [inofficial text of the German answer points out tfhat two things are clear, nauiley: The note sent is entirely and absolutely unsatisfactory, or there would have been much more stir upon its receipt. Furthermore, the note come 3 from the present German Government, with which the United States refused to deal. It is thought the tone of the note is evasive. The Government learns from Copenhagen dispatches that the German railroads have been asked to prepare not only for the evacuation of the occupied territory, but for the actual demobilisation of the German army.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. MR. TAFT'S VIEWS. New York, Oct. 22. Mr. Taft, interviewed in Philadelphia, said: "Another German peace note has come, but we are no nearer peace. Germany has adopted a popular form of Government over-night, as it were, but where are the Hokenzolleru*? Have they surrendered? Wlho controls the German army and navy? It is difficult to be patient with such a travesty at this time. We hope an answer will be sent closing the chapter of useless negotiations."—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.
FRENCH" VIEWS OF REPLY. Paris, Oct. 22. Parliamentary circles and the press regard the German reply as wilfully equivocal and tortuous, especially as regards the armistice. They do not -consider the pretended constitutional reforms afford a guarantee of duration. — Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. MILITANT PRO-GERMANS. London, Oct. 22. The tone of the German press indicates that the militarists have regained control of rteh time being. Cb.ptain P'crsius, in five Tageliiatt, forecasts an early great expansion of submarinism. Count Reventlow demands the retention of Alsace-Lorraine, the sacrifice of which is incompatible with German honor. The Vorwaerts says that Pan-Germans are only awaiting the signal to stop the peace negotiations and attempt to overthrow the Government, establish a dictatorship, and continue the war to the uttermost. —United Service. Amsterdam, Oct. 22. Hcrr Maximilian Harden, addressing a gathering of several thousands in Berlin, declared that the Kaiser must sho'Jider the cross of seeking a peace based on the enemy military superiority and must therefore be shorn of_ despotic powers. —Renter.
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Taranaki Daily News, 24 October 1918, Page 6
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1,327PEACE TALK. Taranaki Daily News, 24 October 1918, Page 6
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