PEACE MOVES.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16359, 2 November 1918, Page 9

PEACE MOVES.

AUSTRIA ASKS FOR ARMISTICE LULL ON THE WESTERS FRONT. ITALIAN OFFENSIVE SWEEPING ON. FIFTH YEAR—94th DAY

THE PEACE PROPOSALS, an armistice sought. AUSTRIAN COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF APPLIES TO GENERAL DIAZ. (By Cable.—Prvss Association.—Copyright.} (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, Oeto bor 31. The Austrian Commander-in-Chief ha 6 applied to General Diaz for an armistice. THE AUSTRIAN NOTE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) NEW YORK, October 31. Mr Lansing announces that the Austrian No to will be submitted to the Allies. DIRECT OVERTURES FROM HUNGARY. '"Tho Times.") LONDON, October 31. There is reason to believe that Count Andrassy has authorised direct _ overtures to the Italian commanders in the field for an immediate armistice. THE ARMISTICE TERMS. PROBABLY A SHOCK TO GERMANY.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) NEW YORK, October 31. Tho Washington correspondent of the "New York Times" states: —Tho Allies have not yet sent tho terms of tho armistice to Gormany. The general opinion is that the latest indications are that Germany is willing to make practically any concessions and acccpt any terms to assure peace, but it is expected that tho severity of the armistice and the peacc terms the Allies will impose for tho purpose of assuring the elimination of Germany as a menace to tho peace of the world, and make her unable to recommence hostilities, will come as a great shock to German militarists, naval authoritiesj and people. Excellent rea6ons exist for tho belief in official and diplomatic circles that von Hindenburg flatly told the Kaiser that it was useless to continue fighting. The belief prevails, on what is considered reliable information, that Austria and Turkey notified Germany that they would sue'for a separate peace unless Germany obtained an armistice soon.

OPINION IN AMERICA. AN INDEMNITY AiN'D UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER. NEW YORK, October 31. Senator Lodge, in a speech at Boston, said l : Germany Should bo compelled to pay an indemnity to England, America, and the neutrals for the destruction of shipping, and should be forced to make reparation for her wrong 9to the world at large. "Wo are on the threshold of victory,, and • the enemy is crumbling. This is no time to negotiate. It is tliQ hour to press op. I believe that in » few weeks we shall reach a glorious end. Mr Roosevelt and Mr Taft have issued a joint appeal, urging the people to choose between a negotiated peace and 1 unconditional surrender, adding, "The American people demand unconditional surrender." . GERMANY'S PEACE CONFERENCE REPRESENTATIVE. (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association) (Received November Ist, 7.45 p.m.) BERNE, October 31. Gorman newspapers announce that Herr von Kuhlmann, ox-Minister ot Foreign Affairs, will be appointed head of the German mission to the Peace Conference. GERMAN PRESS COMMENT. (Renter's Telegrams.) AMSTERDAM, October 31. The "Kolnisclie Volkszeitung" says: "Germany is ready to give military guarantees, but will not accept shameful terms.''

WAR. RISKS REDUCED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Renter's Telegrams.) (Received November Ist, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, October 31. Tho Press Bureau states: The Board of Trade has announced that war risks on carj|o will be decreased 50 per cent, in oases where vessels sail during an armistice between belligorents. # AN INCORRECT STATEMENT. (Renter's Telegrams.) "(Received November let, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, October 31. Sir George Cave stated that tho terms of the armistice with Germany published this morning were unauthorised, and obviously incorrect. THE AUSTRIAN NOTE. , (Australian and N.Z. Oablo Association.) (Received November Ist, 9.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, October 31. Mr Lansing, Secretary of State, has announced that there will be no formal reply to tho latest Austrian Note. Th° Swedish Ministry has been informed that it will bo duly forwarded to tho Allies. EX-PRESIDENTS' ELECTION APPEAL. (Attstraiiftn and K.Z. Cablo AwocUtwi.) (Received November Ist, 9.20 p.m.) NEW YORK, October 31. Mr Roosevelt and Mr Taft have isj sued a joint appeal for a RoI publican majority in Congress, j They say that they would" have I welcomed the elimination of all i politics by tho President, but instead partisan lines have been most strictly drawn. During the period of the next

NEW PROBLEMS,

Congress, the -war must be fought to an unconditional surrender, and tlio terms of peace must be settled. The Democratic Administration must give an account of its stewardship. Changes from war conditions to peaco must be effected with tho least disturbance. The Republicans are better suitod to this task thuji the Democrats. Peace terms are not settled by one man only, buti by a. two-thirds vote in tho Senate. Americans are fighting against one-man control, why allow it at homo? President Wilson indicated his readiness to mako pence by negotiation, and did not demand what Amoricans wanted, namely, unconditional surrender. His exchange of Notes with Germany caused deep concern lest he might' concede Germany peace around tho council table, instead of sentence being pronounced by the Court. Eleven of his points were so vague and general that a peace based on them would bo no peaco at all. The present Democratic majority was subservient in every way to the Presidential will. . President 1 Wilson did not hesitato publicly to discipline. those disagreeing with him, Tho new Congress would bo merely a replica of the old in this respect. It was not! safe to trust such unlimited power to tho Presidential hands.

THE VERSAILLES CONFERENCE,

(Received November Ist. 7.50 p.m.) PARIS, October 81.

Tho Conferonco at Versailles is fully representative of all tho Allies. Mr Bonar Law, Viscount Milner, Lord Reading, Sir Eric Geddes, and Admiral Wemyss are assisting Mr Lloyd Georgo and Mr Balfour. It is improbable that a decision will bo published before tho cud of the week. Tho proceedings are more protracted than anticipated, owing to Austria's demand for an arniißtice and other now problems. A subsidiary naval oonference will be held. Sir Eric Geddes, Admiral Wemyss (Britain). Admiral Sims, and Admiral Benson, on behalf of America, and other Alfied naval men will be present. The question of tho submarines is proving a difficulty in connexion with the naval armistice. It was stipulated in 1871 that French and German warships should remain on cither side of an imaginary line through Dunkirk, but Buch arrangement was impossible with Germau submarines, whoso position was unknown. SHIPOWNERS' RESOLUTIONS. ' (United S«rrio«.) LONDON, October 31. Liverpool shipowners hfive passed resolutions demanding that there shall bo no return of the German colonics, also the seizuro of German shipping as part, of an indemnity. AN AUSTRIAN DEPUTATION. ALLOWED TO CROSS FIGHTING LINE. (Received November 2nd, 12.35 ; VANCOUVER., October 31. | An Austrian deputation has been al- ! iowed to cross the fighting line on the Italian front, and arrange preliminary pourparlers of peace with the Italians. NEW GERMANO-AUSTRIAN STATE'S CLAIMS. (Boater's Telegrams.) (Received November lßt, 7.60 p.m.) BERNE, October 31.

The Executive Council of the new Germano-Austrian State has drafted a Note to President Wilson claiming all Austrian territory in which the German element is in the majority, the representatives to attend the Peace Confer- j ence. The Council desires to negotiate with the Allies on the basis of Prepidont Wilson's fourteen points, with the recognition of the Jugo-Slavs . and the Czecho-Slovaks' independence. Tho Council claims Moravia and Sile&ia as preponderatingly German, and appeals to President Wilson to secure an armistice and the new State'B right to selfdetermination.

AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN COMMAND. ANXIOUS TO SURRENDER. C'The Times.") (Received November Ist, 7.45 p.m.) PARIS, October 31. A semi-official message states that the Austro-Hungarian Command ia anxious to surrender.