GERMANY'S PROPOSALS TO FRANCE

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 112, 8 November 1917, Page 7

GERMANY'S PROPOSALS TO FRANCE

THE OVERTURES TO M. BRIAND WHY THE POWERS DECLINED NEGOTIATIONS. j (Received November 8, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, 7th November. Ihe Manchester Guardian's correspondent at Paris confirms the message concerning Prince Yon Billow's peace proposals, which was cabled on 24th October, and adds: M. Briand strongly wished to go to Switzerland to see Yon Bulqw or the Chancellor, a 6 Germany suggested, but the Premier (M. Ribot), would not allow it, believing the proposal was a trap. M. Briand then demanded that all the Powers should be informed. This was done, but in such form as to suggest that the offer was a trap. Hence the Powers declined to negotiate. The Manchester Guardian states: "In addition to Alsace-Lorraine, the proposals included the cession of Trieste and the Trentino, the complete independence of Belgium, and financial compensation for damage done in Belgium. Germany insisted strongly upon the abstention of belligerent nations -from a. commercial boycott after the war, complete equality of treatment in import duties, and commercial facilities." '

[The message referred to is as follows : —"The Paris correspondent of the Manchester Guardian, writing in connection with the Cabinet crisis, says that M. Briand, in conversation with friends, disclosed that he was the so-called 'important political personage' who received Germany's peace proposals. He eaid that he was staying in Switzerland in September, when Bulow sent him a messenger suggesting peace, and offering to restore Alsace-Lorraine to France and Trieste to Italy, but demanding compensation at Russia's expense. This announcement explains the Anglo-French assurances to Russia in September against such a peace." Mr. Asquith, explaining the Government's war aims to a meeting at Leeds during September, said, among other things : —"I a66ume, as a matter of course, the enemy evacuation of the occupied territories of France and Russia." About the same time General Verchovsky (then Minister for War in Russia) announced at a plenary sitting of the Soviet's Central Committee that the Government had received from England and France a categorical declaration that any German attempt to conclude a separate peace on Russia's account would be indignantly refused. England and France said that the idea would not be given even passing consideration.]"