FRENCH REPLY TO THE PEACE NOTE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 311, 20 September 1918, Page 5

FRENCH REPLY TO THE PEACE NOTE

SPEECH BY M. CLEMENCEAU CRIMINALS MUST PAY FOR THEIR CRIMES Paris, September 18, M. Clemcnceau, speaking in the Senate, said the Government dosired to honour the splendid soldiers cf the Entente, by whose efforts wo would bo freed from the subjugation of barbarism. For half a century' peaceful France had not known a day without tho threat of war. Those days had been passed in slow suffering. Tho frightened Germans 'now understood tho sort of mcii i they liavo to iac..-. "The world has witnessed tho atrocities of tho German soldier, and will not forget them. There will be no viotory unless tbo criminals pay fully for their terriblo crimes. The account will be presented and paid. After four years of thankless war, our fortunes have changed, and tho Kaiser's armies aro retiring beforo tho free and enlightened peoples of tho world. Franco is looking for peace; but it must bo one which will give, justico to the survivors of the abominable past."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMANY'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE • NOTE ADMITTED BY GERMAN PRESS. Amsterdam, September 18. The German Press reluctantly recognises that Germany bears tho responsibility for the Austrian Note, whioh was the last aot in the long negotiations between Berlin and Vienna. The "Berliner Tageblatt's" correspondent at Budapest asserts that tho Note was agreed to in principle between Count von Buriau aiid Dr. von Hintze, during tho lattor's visit to Vienna. It was arranged that when the adversaries' offensive had reached a certain stage,' and tho Gorman armies had takon up now positions, a peace step should bo undertaken. The Austrian newspapers declare that the German Vice-Chaucellor (von Payer) when ho made his •speech-was aware of von Burian's project—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AMERICAN LABOUR AND THE PEACE ISSUE SPEECH BY MR. SAMUEL • GOMPERS. (Reo. September 19, 7.45 p.m.) London, September 18. At tho Inter-Allied Labour Conference Mr. Samuel Gompers (president of the American Labour Federation; explained the federation's war aims, with which tho American delegates agreed. Tho federation had declared its unqualified determination to do all in its power to assist tlio Allies in marshalling all their resources to drivo the Central Powers from iuvaded soil and oppose them so long as they were controlled by militaristic autocratic central Governments, which threatened the existence of all self-governing peoples. Tho federation had endorsed President ■Wilson's fourteen poaco conditions. Tlio people had earned tho right to wipe out all vestigo of tho old idea- that government belonged to tho governing classes. Therefore, tho workers must be directly represented on tho delegations formulating tho peace treaty. Tho American mission declared for tho fundamental principles which must underlio tho peace treaty. These included a league of the' free peoples of tho world to secure justico and peace in tho relations botween nations. No political or. economic restrictions that meant tho benefit of some nations while crippling and embarrassing others were contemplated. There need ho no vindictive indemnities or reprisals, but there must bo indemnities to right manifest wrongs, a recognition of tho rights of small nations, no territorial changes or adjustment of nowor except in furtherance of tlio welfare of the people affected, and the furtherance of tho world's' peace.—Router. "The peace treaty," added Mr. Gompers, "should incorporate the right of free speech, free -assemblage, free Press, prohibit child labour under sixteen, and enact the eight hours' day and trial by jury."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PRESIDENT WILSON'S REPLY TO AUSTRIA RECEIVED AT THE FRONT WITH ■; GRIM APPROVAL. (Rec. September 19, 9.45 p.m.) Washington, September 18. ■ It is reported that tlie_ United States Army at tho front received President Wilson's reply to Germany with grim approval.—Aus.-N.Z. Gable Assn. BELGIUM AND~THE PEACE INTRIGUE GERMAN PROPOSAL REJECTED. Paris, September 18. The "Petit Parisien" has learned that Belgium, after consultation with the Allies, has decided absolutely to reject the German proposal for a separate peace.—Reuter.