HARD PRESSED

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2955, 15 December 1916, Page 9

HARD PRESSED

WHY GERMANY WANTS - PEACE BLUFFING ON AN EMPTY LARDER "FRIGHTFUL" THREATS By itelegrajt-Prees Assbdition-Copyright .New. Yorii,..December .13. - . Tlie. German. Embassy, retracts : its .peace terms' as' notified. yesterday, declaring. that'.they, in.ust be.interpreted as...what.Germany .would.;like .to got, but' not what ; she expects to . get. .Any terms now. suggested are talking terms, .ajid.'ara .less important' than..the .necessity. of. starting,a. Eeace . Conference. The Embassy!.adds:,- "The Central Powers are counting .on the ..neutrals takirij* an important ..part in. influencing' the' Allies towards peace. .' Much hope" is .placed on a. Coining conference to bo held at Copenhagen, _ at which Scandinavia, Switzerland,. with 'Spam and Holland/-will possibly he represented.?'. This declaration regarded, as most significant.. . German? .'is.'far harder pressed for peace than Herr Bethmann-Hollweg's' statements would imply.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn: PUBLIC OPINION IN BRITAIN LONDON REFUSES TO BECOME EXCITED London/December 13.

London refuses to .become over-es-cited about tho peace, offer, though naturally eager to hear. what, all the Reichstag mystery was . about. The newspapers , to-day .take _ the matter calmly, and .mostly .dismiss it by .'reiterating Mr. * Asquith's declaration at the Guildhall of" tho war aims of. the Entente. . They point but that it iB impossible to discuss the idea in detail until a concrete offer is made. Britain seems less concerned about the prospeots of .peace ' than about Germany's motive, believe, that Germany imagined she would bo able to bluff the Allies into a peace corresponding in the least to Hollweg's version of. the military situation. It is . conjecture that she .is trying to play on the feelings of the pacifist minorities, and also ,on tho weaker members of the Entente, if such exist.

newspapers opportunely quote influential' German organs to show that the food problem in. Germany is much more serious than is supposed. Continental correspondents adduce fresh facts in the .'same sense, and also assert that the German mass levy is the last expiring effort, especially-in. view'of the revelations of tho enormous German losses on the Sommo and at Verdun. These organs conclude that Germany's offer is proof of Her approaching exhaustion, and that now is tho time for the Allies to go in and win by means of supreme national efforts.

. Nevertheless, it is universally supposed that Germany hopes, to impress neutrals, and that the latter may accept Herr Bethmann-Hollweg's - argument that Germany, having successfully fought a defensive war, can offer to negotiate without loss of prestige, and also' Hindenburg's view that Germany has won if ; she has made the : Allies' war . aims impossible. In that case •those' neutrals whoso hopes are raised high by'the astute German, statecraft may. he, seriously .disappointed, and may blame the Allies. Germany, also, will - 'probably ntilisb' ;tho' rejection of tho; proposal?; by the Entente as "an excuse' ..for ' aggravating friglitfulness towards, neutrals' trade' as' well as to .that of "her 'enemies.' Finally, a peace kite is worth flying, for-domestic reasons. Possibly the distress is weakening German discipline, and tho rulers want to stiffen tho people. Nevertheless, Germany as. a whole accepts Herr Hollweg's .reading of tlio situation. If the rulers require further sacrifices, they will use thovrefusal of the-peace offers for that purpose. It is safe to predict that the supposed detailed offer, emanating from tho German Embassy in Washington, which leaked out at a lato hour, will not bear discussion. The London organs contrast van Bethmann-Hollweg's bombast with tho simple declaration nf resolution to fight to victory made by M. > Briand and Mr. Lloyd Georgo in their exchange of congratulations. There is fear in some quarters that there may bo a possible' accession of strength to the pacifists.

Tho "Daily Telegraph's" correspondent at Rotterdam, emphasises.this view, and' warns tho Entente that- German hoastfulnoss has heen; lately, revived. If her rulers want Germany to -make, greater efforts, this peace dodge will probably-, succeed..

Tlio "Daily- News,"...while declaring -that we must insist-oii the reasonable fulfilment of Mr. As'quith's declaration, says, that the Allies slimild formally state their-peace terms. Otherwise, Germany may. possibly 'win a diplomatie victory. The "Daily. Chronicle." iri a fiery av-. ticle, reflects Press opinion thus: "If Germany want's peace, she can'always, have it. on our terms. She has onlv to inquire'iwhat they are."—Atis.-N./5. Cable Assiii "what aWr-ica IS THINKING. . Washington,-. December 13. It is" believccl in diplomatic circles that the'peace move, is duo-largely to Austrian pressure.- It is said that Count Berchtold (formerly Austro-Hun-garian Foreign Minister) resents " the German domination of the Austrian people,' and is opposed' to- the continuance of the conflict. American opinion, -.as represented in editorials and interviews,, holieves. that the Allies will..not consent to peace until German '.militarism is overthrown. The fact'that the. Press opinion is practically unanimqtis that the. Embassy's terms are not acceptable is considered responsible 'for Count. Bernstmff's .modification. —Aus.-N-.Z. Cable Assn.. FRENCH~PREMIER'S . ■; COMMENTS''; ; " POISONOUS ATTEMPTS " (Rec. tlecember 14-, 8.55 p.m.) Parte, December 13. .. Speaking in. the French Chamber of Deputies, M. Briand. (the ' Premier) said: "The Allies" are justified in feeling, mort confident to-day than in.1915. Germany has found it necessary .to is,sue .peaco .proposals. ..France.'mustbeware: of such poisonoiis attempts' at'a. time when Germany'is arming to'the teeth." He added: "Tlie German proposals are merely Vague words, designed to trouble the consciences, .of Frenchmen. These' German proposals are a clumsy artifice to' dissociate,'the Allies, and should only bo regarded with' .suspicion." His impression was that 'Germany feared, that'-slie ; would be unable to hold what.she had conquered.— 'Aus..rN,Z... Cnhle Assn.-' NOT TAKEN SKRIOIJSr.Y IN ' -- - -FRANCE. • PariSj December 13. - The newspapers-do not; regard :th ( e peace offer-seriously, some pointing-.oufc that if, is made when England, Russia, and Franco aro concentrating to greater, efforts, .and that it indicates that German; military and civilian power is' approaching, Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn. '•

i . A UNITED RUSSIA. NOBLES HAND-IN-HAND WITH THE DUMA. " (R-ec. December 14, .10 p.m.) London, December .14. The "Daily. Telegraph's" PotroKrad correspondent states, that the Council of Russian. Nobles has, by an overwhelming majority, joined the. Duma and the Imperial Council in demanding the effectivo co-operation of the Government and tho nation, and denouncing certain "dark forces," _ the existence of which has'been, mysteriously hinted at during the past few weeks.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.'.' AUSTRIA INITIATED THE PROPOSALS (Rec.. December 14,.8.55 p.m.) - Amsterdam,-December-13. ■ • Count Tisza's speech- in the Hungarian. Chamber .reveals. :t-he- fact, that Baron Burian de Rajecz .(the Austrian .Foreign.Minister), initiated the peace proposals. He aEproached / Austria's allies, who received them sympathetic-ally.—Aus.-N.Z. 'Cable Assn. . i CRIES 'OF AND MISERY (Rcc. December 14, 11.10 p.m.). . ■ • tendon, pdeembpf I' 4. ■ The, "Times" correspondent at "Lausanne says that in Austria-Hungary the economic situation is. critical,;, and there are cries of distress and misery. .'Czechland'.s. newspapers, are full of" letters from the wounded, begging for; even a few potatoes, and -there are lamentations in Bohemia,- where there aro three meatless days every week. The meals in some restaurants' have been, quintupled in price. The sale of tobacco has been urohibited in-restaurants and cafes.—"fee Times." •