Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1915. MORE PEACE TALK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8300, 19 November 1915, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1915. MORE PEACE TALK.

| Tlie " sparrow-like twitterings about peace," which iSlv Asquith derisively brushed aside in a speech in May oil this year, are gradually becoming louder, and they now resemble the beating, of an eagle's wings. In every, instance they can be directly traced to a German -source, though, there is a marked change in tone of recent peace suggestions compared with those made earlier in the year. The article referred to in the cable news yesterday as having been contributed by the Hon. C. F. G. Masierman to the "Daily . Chronicle," is in a measure the British reply to the bombastic peace terms enunciated by Dr Dernberg, Dr Paul. Rohrbach, Professor Ostwald, and other German professors and scientists. Mr Masterman's interpretation of Mr Asquith's ideals will find general acceptance though Mr Asquith did not go as far as to suggest what would become of the remnant ofj Germany's fleet. His actual words were:—"We shall never sheathe the sword which we have not lightly drawn until Belgium recovers in full measure all and more than she has sacrificed, un-

til France is adequately secured against the menace of aggression, until the rights of the smaller nationalities of. Europe are placed lupon an unassailable foundation, and until the military domination of Prussia is wholly and finally' destroyed." This statement was made prior to the invasion and pillage of Serbia and the intervention of Italy, and the Central Powers will havo additional liabilities with respect to these nations when peace terms are being arranged. Dr Rohrbach's demands are perhaps the most audacious of any of the German peace terms, and they are as frank as they are absurd. He says that "Germany will have the right to count itself as having won the war if its enemies see themselves constrained to desist from their intention to break down out armed force, and to withdraw to j the position that existed before, the war." The peace which would ensue would be, according to this confident gentleman, "anj interval in which Germany would prepare for her great mission, the overthrow of 'Russia: if not in i this war, then in the next; and if j not in the next, then in the wax] a^ter 'the next." The German ideal is .thus a procession of Armageddons, ; but it is not explained how a population of 70,000,000, wtych is almost the" limit of Germany's carrying capacity, is going to " wipe out" a nation of nearly double that number, and capable of increasing at the rate of 5,000,000 per annum. The amazing assurance of some of these Germans is indeed laughable. It will be remembered that the Secretary of State for the Imperial Treasury, when in-, troducing the War Budget into the Reichstag, explained that the Budget did not include any provision for the redemption of war loans, as their beaten enemies would have* to provide for them. The Allies, he declared, -"might be counted upon to pay Germany's bill for this tremendous war "; a /statement- that the members of the Reichstag cheered uproariously. Herr Dernberg, the Foreign Minister, speaking a few weeks ago, stated that Germany was willing to make peace 'Aon condition that, there were no territorial changes and no indemnities,'' a concession that is in striking, contrast to Professor HaeckePs forecast, in December last year, of the terms that Germany would exact from the Allies at the close: of the war. Professor Haeckel' assured the world that "in order to ensure Germany's future the following fruits of victory are necessary: (1) Freedom from the tyranny of England, secured by (2) the invasion of the British piratical State by tte German army and navy, and the occupation of London; (3) the partition of Belgium: the western portion, as far as Ostend and Antwerp to become a German Federal, State, the. northern portion falls to Holland, while the south-eastern portion will be added to Luxemburg, which also becomes a German Federal State; (4) Germany obtains a great part of the British Colonies and the Congo State; (5) France must give up a portion of her north-eastern provinces; (6) Russia must be reduced to impotency by -the re-establishment of the Kingdom of Poland, which will be united with AustriaHungary ; (7) the Baltic provinces of Russia are restored to Germany." The war had. then been raging only four months, but in the intervening period much has happened to make Germany less. ! confident of victory and. keenly apprehensive of the ultimate issue. Fence her constant _ peace "feelers," which cannot in any way affect the Allies' determination to end the war on their own j.terms.