UNITED STATES.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1918, Page 6

UNITED STATES.

THE BLOCKADF DR. SOLF'S CRY FOR RELAXATION. London, Nov. 12. Dr. Solf. in a message to Mr. Lansing. says:— "The Government has received the conditions of the armistice. After tt blockade of fifty months those conditions, especially the surrender of the means of transport and the sustenance of the troops of occupation, will make it impossible to provide Germany with food and cause the starvation of millions of men, women and Children. As the blockade must continue Dr. Solf says: "We had to accept the conditions, but at this fateful hour we again address ourselves to the President with the request that he will use his influence with the Allied Powers in order to mitigate these fearful condi-tions."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. and Router. New York, Nov. 13. The Times' Washington correspondent states that direct reports of conditions in Germany from the Nauen wireless station have been suspended and Washington officials are convinced that great distress prevails there. A careful reading of Dr. Soli's dispatch, pointing out the seriousness of the conditions in Germany and asking for aid, -jhows that it is as muclh an argument for the modification of the armistice terms as an appeal for food. Dr. Solf. in effect, pleads for permission to retain the shipping which Germany must surrender in accordance with the terms of the armistice. What action the President will take regarding the appeal is not disclosed. While the bloclcnde against Germany and AustriaHungary will not be raised until after the armistice period, it is believed the armistice may be modified in order to permit transportation of foodstuffs te the Central natir-ns.

The South American markets are expected to be called upoii to supply grain and other produce thus supplementing what the United States is able to spare for the relief of the situation.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. 1 RELIEF FOR GERMANY, USE OF GERMAN SHIPS. 1 London, Nov. 12. President' Wilson, addressing Congress, said: "By the use of idle tonnage of the Central Powers it ought presently to be made, possible to lift the fear and utter misery from the minds of the oppressed populations and set their minds and energies free for the great tasks of political reconstruction facing them.

"With revolution abroad it is a mat' ter of no small anxiety with what authority we deal 'and with what assurance flint that authority will abide and sustain securely the international arrangements into which we are about to enter. Wo must bo patieijt, helpful and mindful above all of the great hope and confidence that will be at the heart of what is taking place."

He was confident that the nations which had learned the discipline of freedom were now about to make a conquest of the world by sheer power of example and friendly helpfulness to the peoples who had just come out from under the yoke of arbitrary Government.

"We must hold the light steady till they find themselves. In t)he meantime, if possible, we must establish a peace that will justify and define their place among nations and remove all fear from their neighbors and of their former masters, and enable them to live in security and contentment when they have set their own affairs in order." Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.