BLOODY, BUT UNBOWED.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 11, 12 January 1918, Page 5

BLOODY, BUT UNBOWED.

FRANCE'S UNCONQUERABLE r SOUL. FIRST WAR AIM IS VICTORY. LONDON, January 1. During an important debate in the Chamber of Deputies on the Government's Russian policy, M. Pichon (Foreign Minister) declared that the Allies unanimously decided that it was imposjsible to have official relations with the i Bolsheviks owing to the latter's violations of the alliances, while simultaneously showing a pro-German bios. All France disapproved of the Bolsheviks, nevertheless the Government would maintain touch -with the sane elements in Russia. France did not despair of her ancient ally, and awaited the chance to j resume her former relations. "We are not," said M. Pichon, "intervening in the internal policy of Russia, but we are proceeding to safeguard our considerable interests there. We are replying favourably to the populations wishing to maintain friendly relations with us. and thereby are pursuing our policy, in view of the ultimate regeneration of Russia." Amid loud applause the Foreign Minister declared that the first war-aim was to conquer. It vvas in complete accord with President Wilson's utterances, and the Government would consider the war won only when the German people were ready to make reparation for the wrongs done. The question of Alsace and Lorraine was a world question, because it was a symbol of right, just as the deliverance jot Jerusalem was not a mere British I victory, but a victory for the whole civjilised world, spelling deliverance for the populations, and the institution of an international regime of justice and liberty. Referring to the Central Powers' peace proposals he said that Germany was endeavouring to draw France into negotiations, but there could be no question of , a territorial or economic statue quo ante bellum. (Cheers.) When France was informed directly of the peace terms she would consider them with her Allies, but such indirect peace proposals did not deserve consideration. Whether the Russo-German negotiations ended in the capitulation of Russia or broke down, France would continue the war. The Allies were determined to pool all their resources in order to give their armies the maximum power. Germany had attempted the impossible itask of conquering the world, but the world would conquer her. France will have saved the soul of the world. "It is for that that we are working." (Loud cheers, except from the extreme Left.) A motion by M. Longuet, favouring a revision of the Allies' war-aims jn accordance with the Russian formula of a general peace without annexations and indemnities, was rejected by 378 votes to 103. The minority were practically all Socialists. After the debate concluded the Government's policy, as expressed by M. Pichon, was approved unanimously by the 384 deputies present. Mr. Bourchier, special correspondent of the "Times" in Petrogxad, writing on I Boxing Day, states that the Centoal Powers cannot see the advantage of a separate peace. \% is rumoured that the delegates proposed that Russia should again attempt to mediate and draw in the Allies. In the event of failure the Central Powers would occupy various strategic points of Russian territory for the purpose of inducing the Allies to attend Russia's representations. The scheme caused consternation at the Bolshevik headquarters. The "Times" states that the whole pretence of the negotiations is characteristically disingenuous and manifestly intended to secure peace, while Germany is yet able to preserve her advantages. Peace on such terms would leave Germany the victor, completely controlling the Dual Monarchy, the Balkan States. Turkey, and Asia Minor. The Allies will not begin negotiations until they have guarantees that Germany and her confederates will accept peace on their terms. The prevailing opinion is that the German anxiety is for peace by hook or crook, and that the enemy is endeavouring to use the Russians as the instrument to procure a general peace on terms favourable to the Central Empires. He is artfully pretending to join in the Russian condemnation of conquest in order to circulate the idea that the Allies are responsible for the continuance of war. His careful verbiage and guarded clauses, such as "German troops will be withdrawn only from such places as the General Staff may designate," reveal the speciousness of his promises, this characteristic mixture of trickery and bluff deceiving nobody, except th 6 pacifist and defeatist cliques. The "Daily Mail" says:—"The barrage of talk is covering Hindenburg's next move. Germany .will surrender nothing until beaten and humbled on the battlefield. The British Empire will be blown sky-high before returning her colonies, and will never renounce the demand for .'the reparation of Belgium."