CONFERENCE DESIRED.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15777, 19 December 1916, Page 7

CONFERENCE DESIRED.

TERMS ANNOUNCED THEN. (Reutera Telegram*.) COPENHAGEN, December 17. The "Frankfurter Zeitung" states that the German Note does not contain the peace terms. It suggests a conference of all belligerents, where each could announce its neace conditions and the ideals for which it is fighting, the conference to be held at The Hague about January loth, fisrhting continuing meanwhile. THE SWISS CAUTIOUS, COPENHAGEN. December 17. The "Kolnischo Zeitung's" Zurich correspondent learns that the Swiss Government does not consider the present moment favourable for peace negotiations, such as Germany asks neutrals to transact, and docs not believe that thero is any prospect of reaching a result in the direction of German peace efforts. It believes that it is not impossible that the mediator might be suspected. Tne Swiss Parliament will not discuss the offer. SPAIN AND THE NOTE. LONDON, December 17. Spain has forwarded tho Peace Note to Portugal, Belgium, Italy, and Rouinania. AN AMERICAN CAMPAIGN. PETITIONS TO THE PRESIDENT. NEW YORK, December 17. Count von Bernstorff is endeavouring to manipulate a Press campaign favourable to a Peace Conference. The Hearst papers are assisting with special articles. The "Evening Journal" is organising a pcace petition to President Wilson. WITH THE ENTENTE. NO PEACE FOR RUSSIA. THE PEOPLE DETERMINED. (Australian and Jf.Z. Cable Aesociation.) LONDON, December 17. The "Observer's" Petrograd correspondent says that M. Pekrovsky, who was appointed Foreign Minister the day after Dr. von Bethmann-Hollwcg s .speech, is honest and hardworking. He won rounds of applauso in the Duma by his emphatic rejection of tho German advances. Although the demand for r. Cabinet enjoying public confidence has not yet- been granted opinion is oxpiessing itself with growing firmness. With striking unanimity, the whole country, from top to bottom, is insistr ent upon reorganisation for victory. Hence tho denunciation of the "dark forces'' or irresponsible influences which • aro regarded as the chiof obstacle to tho completo" fusion of the Government with the nation. Even the reactionary Association of Nobles, which in 191-5 denounced the summoning of tho Duma, has now ousted its executive, overruled the previous decision as was already cabled, and demanded a Cabinet with tho people's confidence but f:om tho standpoint of devotion to ;:u----tocracv recommended that the Cabinet bo responsible to tho Czar. It must be noted that »ll the resolutions of the various bodies recently cabled, and tho concentration of widely divergent and formerly opposing groups, represent a greater effort towards real victory than that leading to the formation of tho War Cabinet in Englar.c. This was the situation upon which the German peace proposals happened to impinge. A cable published on Friday said that the "Daily Telegraph's" Petrograd correspondent stated that a Council of Russian nobles, by an overwhelming : majority, had joined the Duma and tho Imperial Council in demanding effective co-operation between the Government and tho nation in denouncing those 'dark forces," tho existence of which had been mysteriously hinted during the past few -weeks. "AN IMPUDENT PROPOSAL." DELHI, December 17. Practically the wholo British and vernacular Press consider the German peace offers an impudent proposal, which it would be impossible to accept. A number of papers insist on unconditional surrender. PORTUGAL DETERMINED. LISBON. December 17. The Portuguese Press demand tho inexorable chastisement of the Germans before peace is granted. THE SOLDIER'S VIEW. ENEMY MUST ADMIT DEFEAT. I LONDON, December 17. Renter's correspondent at the British headquarters in Franco reports that the first intimation of the peace proposals in tho first line trenches came mostly from the German trenches, from which boards with chalked notices quoting the Kaiser's grandiloquent address, were exhibited. _ The notices were received with scepticism and sarcasm. The correspondent, summarising the views of officers and rneli, says that the speech was interpreted as an admission that the Germans wish for peace badly, but on impossible terms. The troops believe that the terrible hammering tho enemy received, and is about to rcceivo on the Somme, are governing factors in the proposals. The correspondent declares that there would be the profoundest indignation if the order to cease hostilities were given under any other conditions than those tantamount to a German admission of their coming defeat. MR MASSEY'S VIEW. LONDON, December 17. M r Massey, in an article in "Lloyd's Weekly," says:—"lf the Kaiser thinks we are going to make pence on his tei-ms it is another of the Kaiser's many mistakes. The British people will not forget that the peace, proposals are 'made in Germany,' and distrust them accordingly. Tho present proposals are j an insult to the Empire. We shall carry i on until Germany atones for her crimes." I