RUSSIA'S OVERTURES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 9, 10 January 1918, Page 5

RUSSIA'S OVERTURES.

AND GERMAN DUPLICITY.

MR WILSON'S COMMENT. NEW YORK, January 9. The President, Mr. Woodrow Wilson, delivered the following message to Congress to-day:—Once more, as repeatedly before, the spokesman of the Central Empires has indicated a desire to discuss the objects of the war and a possible basis for a general peace. Parleys have been in progress at Brest Litovek between representatives of the Central Powers, to which the attention of all belligerents has been invited, for the purpose of ascertaining whether it is possible to extend the parleys into a general conference with regard to the terms of peace anS. a settlement. The Russian representatives presented not on.ly a perfectly definite statement of principles upon which they were willing to conclude peace, but also an equally definite programme for the concrete application of these principles. Representatives of the Central Powers presented an outline of settlement, ■which, if much less definite, seemed susceptible of a liberal interpretation, until their specific programme of practical terms was added. That programme proposed no concessions either to the sovreignty of Russia or to the preference of the populations •with whose fortunes it dealt, but meant that the Central Empires were to keep every foot of territory which their armed force had occupied, every province, every city, every point of vantage, as a permanent addition to their territories and power.

It is a reasonable conjecture that the central principles of settlement which they first suggested originated with tho more liberal statesmen 6f Germany and Austria, men who had begun to feel the forces of their own peoples' thought and purpose, while the concrete terms of actual settlement came from the military leaders who had no thought but to keep wliat they had got.

The negotiations have been broken off. The Russian representatives were sincere and in earnest. They cannot entertain such, proposals of conquest and domination. The whole incident is full of significance and also full of perplexity. With whom are the Russian representatives dealing? For whom are the representatives of the Central Empires speaking? Are they speaking for majorities in their respective Parliaments of for minority parties—that military and imperialistic minority which has so far dominated their whole policy and controlled the affaire of Turkey and the Balkan States, which felt obliged to become their associate* in the war? —(Reuter.)

BINDING THE ALLIES. THE PRESIDENT'S GREATEST DOCUMENT. SOME AMERICAN OPINIONS. (Received 10 a.m.) WASHINGTON, January 9. Congressmen and officials agree that the main purpose of Mr. "Wilson's message is to bind in sympathy Russia, the Allies, and America. Russia may yet turn the balance in the Allies' favour. Mr. J. W. Gerard, eX-AmtSfeeador to Berlin, pronounces it to be the greatest document that Mr. Wilson has produced, and save it should have a marked effect on the*people.of Germany and force the Government to reply.

Mr. F. C. Penfield, ex-Ambassador to Vienna, said that the speech would win many waverers in Austria.

The New York "Times" commends the masterly statement, but emphasises that the first condition of peace must be the downfall of Prussian militarism. Mr. Lloyd George's statement about Alsace was inadequate, and Mr. Wileon had supplied the deficiency. Alsace must return to France. The paper adds:— "Now that our war aims have been stated let us combine all our resources in fighting the Germane." The New York "Tribune" comments: "The message is beyond praise. Mr. Wilson's second Emancipation Declara-I tion represents the aims of a hundred millions. To-day as never before the entire nation marches with the President."

The New York "World" sayß:—"lt is an invitation to the Reichstag to assert its power. It voices the Allies' views after a conference by cable. Mr. Wilson wisely refuses to abandon the Russian people to German intrigue." The New York "Herald" saye:—"The Russian people muat understand that the message will test the sincerity of MM. Trotzky and Lenin, and it afford* a unique opportunity for the German Socialists to deal with the junkers."— (A. and N.Z. Cable.)

The reference in the cable to Mr. Lloyd George's inadequate statement about Alsace is somewhat puzzling, in view of nis ■utterances on that point He Stated in his recent speech: "We mean to stand by the French democracy to the death on the demand they make for a reconsideration of the great wrong of 1871, when "without any regard to the wishes of the population two French provinces were taken from France and incorporated in the German Empire. This sore has poisoned the peace of Europe for half a century. Until it is cured healthy conditions cannot Ye restored. There can be no better illustration of the folly of the wickedness of using a transient military success to violate national right."

IXOYB GEORGE'S TERMS.'

CHAGRIN IN HUNGARY.

BEKNE, January 9. A Hungarian official wireless message says: "Mr Lloyd George's peace conditions are regarded in political circles as altogether unacceptable. They do not offer even approximately a basis for negotiations, being the terms which, only a victor could offer to a completely defeated enemy. The Central Powers now understand exactly what they can expect from Britain and her allies." —(A. and N.Z. Cable.)

DUTCH DISAPPOINTMENT. AMSTERDAM, January 0. Dutch comment upon Mr Lloyd George's speech reveals disappointment at the destruction of all hope of the A-llics participating in peace negotiations at present. The "Telegraaf" says that the peace the ATlies want is a peace satisfying everybody except those wishing to enrich themselves at the expense of other nationalities.—Xßeuter.),