The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1918. ARMISTICE PROGRESS AND PEACE CONGRESS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1918, Page 4

The Dail y News. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1918. ARMISTICE PROGRESS AND PEACE CONGRESS.

I According to a. report from I Treves the armistice has been ex- | tended to 5 a.m. on December 17, J and is renewable thereafter, by I consent of the Entente Powers, until peace preliminaries are settled. Apparently there is some truth in this statement, as a London cable refers to the conditions I attaching to the prolongation, 8 but there is no reliable data: on I which to arrive at an accurate conclusion. It would seem that the Germans are not evincing any I undue haste in carrying out the r armistice condition's, and this may be attributable to the chaotic state of matters connected with the administration of German affairs. So far, there is no Government that the Allies will recogInise, and there appears to be a possibility of this chaotic state continuing indefinitely, possibly in the hope of embarassing the Entente in the performance of their great task of settling the terms of peace. At the same time much has been done so far as the Allies are concerned. Germau sea power has been rendered harmless, and on land the Allies' armies have advanced into German and Austro-Hungarian terriItory, occupying the strategical points named in the armistice conditions. Cologne, Coblenz, » Mayence, Wiesbaden, Vienna, Buda Pesth are in the hands of the Allies. Whether or not it will be necessary for them to march to Berlin time will show, but it is certain they will not submit to defiance or scheming. It is impossible to arrive at an ac-' curate conclusion as to whether or not the food question is intended to play a part in German trickery. The accounts are so conflicting that the truth has become obscured. At any rate if Germanv needs foods she must hand over to the Allies for the time being the vessels now interned in German ports, so that unless this is done it must be assumed that food supplies are sufficient for needs. Herr Rbert appears to be playing a deep game, but whether it is for personal or political' ends is not clear. That he would make a strong bid for the support of the returning soldiers is quite natural, though we are quite in the dark as to the trend of his policy— Kaiserism or Democracy. Meanwhile, the peace delegates are wending their way to Paris. Chief mterest centres around President Wilson, whose movements and intentions are followed with the keenest interest. His speeches since he landed on French soil have been couched in carefully selected words that bear no great (significance other than as the expression of a strong desire for securing a durable peace and a general assertion that punishment must be meted out to the Germans. There are likely to be a number of preliminaries before the actual discussion of the peace terms takes place. The opening phase takes the shape of an interAllied Conference, whereat it is assumed President Wilson will be present. The smaller nations liberated by the Allies' victory from German dominance will be given a hearing as to their claims and aspirations before the actual Peace Congress is held, as it will be necessary to make several alterations in the map of Europe if a durable peace is to be secured. There appears to be a prospect of the proceedings at the inter-Allied 'Conference lasting for some time, as in all likelihood the question of ■a League of Nations will, be dealt, with thereat. Gatherings of this nature are apt to be prolonged, especially when, as in the present case, most of the nations of the world take part or are involved, the issues being of exceptional importance—many of extreme delicacy—and the avoidance' of patchwoi'k being essential. Take, for 1 instance,, the Congress of' which met in 1814 and had not concluded when the escape of 'Napoleon from' Elba, in the following spring interrupted' its deliberations. ; This' Is the" nearest analogy that can be. cited, for the main circumstances were similar to those which have led up to the present Congress, only far greater care is essential now, by reason of the greater menace which Germany has proved to the world in comparison with Napoleon. The danger with Germany is that she will strive her hardest to secure, a diplomatic victory, but as the Allies have been plentifully forewarned, they should certainly be forearmed. Moreover the peace terms in the main have been practically agreed upon by the Allies, so that tli* final phase of the Congress should be confined to a dictation of those terms to the enemv, and conld be made brief and ilepjdgd. JChe ..complete carrying

out of the armistice terms will dear the way for, and leave the enemy no option but to accept, the peace terms. Already .there is an outcry against the payment of indemnities, but no amount of squirming will avail to avert the just punishment of the most criminal nation that has ever disgraced civilisation. The peace terpis will partly be in the nature of a sentence passed on the Germans, and that sentence should be of such severity that it would make even the most callous and hardened criminal feel its weight, Germany certainly deserves all the punishment she will reeeive—and more. ....yy