TERMS FOR GERMANY

Evening Star, Issue 16992, 14 March 1919, Page 3

TERMS FOR GERMANY

. GOAL FOR FOOD. SHIPS MUST BE GIVEN UP. Ptms Association —By Telegraph—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PARIS, March 12. The allied economic delegates resume legctiations with tho Germans at Spa on Thursday. Germany will be permitted to pay for Jood by the export of coaL This will probably induce the striking miners to return lo work. The Allies are firmly determined that tho German merchantmen must be surrendered without prejudice as to their future fate. MR LANSING SOUND, PARIS, March 12. Speaking at a Press dinner given to the American Peace delegates, Mr Lansing {United States Secretary of State) said if starvation was Germany’s portion, and riolenee and murder stalked tho streets, it was only a just punishment for her crimes. Pity almost vanished' before what France suffered. Nevertheless, they must not let the brand of hatred prevent Germany from resisting anarchy. Two words — “peace” and “ food ” —summed up the remedy. SPARTACUS MOVEMENT. EXTENSIVE PROPAGANDA. LONDON, March 12. The most immediate complication of the peace situation is the Spartacista’ official reports, circulated amongst delegates to the Peace Conference by secret agents. The intelligence is of a startling character. Delegates agree that Germany is rushing towards Bolshevism, and is extremely anxious to prevent this, even if only because it would mean the lengthy occupation of a large part of Germany, which would delight German capitalists, but would not wit the Allies. It appears that the Spartacists have at their disposal enormous sums of money, mainly from Russia, and some from Holland, money even reaching them from England. The Allies believe that tho 'German Government’s military victories cannot avail long. The so-called proletariat risings will coma again. Tha insurgents call themselves Communists, but aim at the complete destruction of the present social system or order and purpose building up a new world in which the proletariat will bo dictators. (Many leaders are Russians, others are revolutionary travelling carpet-baggers. In all cases the Spartacists co-operate with the loose and most reckless section of the community. They generally seem a mixture of intellectual brigands, playing upon millions whose morale is lowered byhunger and defeat. Indeed, the barriers of habit and decency are largely broken down. Corruption is everywhere rite, and the depressed people eagerly turn to the only movement which seems to have a real political faith, and actively reaches a creed of action. Unfortunately the Allies have to deal with the Scheidemann group as the only alternative to the Bolsheviks. GERMAN FOOD PROFITEERS. ‘The Times.* THE HAGUE. March 11. The Burgomaster of laden (a town of Rhenish Prussia, north-east of Aix-la-Chapelle) states that Germany is able to sustain herself till harvest if secret dealing and profiteering are mercilessly suppressed. .He describes thousands of illicit dealers, swarming in the agricultural districts, carrying off great quantities of meat, butter, potatoes, and fruits. This disgusting spectacle of law-breaking is mainly responsible for the revolutionary outbreaks. FEEDING THE ENEMY. PARIS, March 12. Mr G. H. Roberts (British rood Minister) stated that the food conditions in enemy countries were appalling. It was reported that the Lemberg death rate was in excess of the birth rate by 20 per cent. This was typical of other largo areas. The people* of Prague were positively starving, and Britain was sending Prague forthwith 2CO tons of condensed milk. The Supreme Economic Council are organising a substantial general relief fund, but the greatest difficulty is duo to the breakdown of internal transport through the phvsical exhaustion of the workers. Mr Roberts adds “The people of Britain need not be apprehensive that the feeding of the enemy will create a shortage in Britain. Our first concern is sufficiency and lowered prices for our own people, then to fulfil the demands of the Allies.” He was convinced that we were able to furnish food to the famished peopV Europe. The latter step was re-t' 1 - ••dial in order to prevent the jp.v . he infection of anarchy. NOSKE FIRM, LONDON. .March 12. Skirmishes continue in Berlin. A Sparacist Reputation waited on Herr Nosko .Minister of Defence) asking tha terms of peace. Herr Noske replied that the terms were unconditional surrender and the givansr up of all arms. LENIN’S FEELER. Reuter’s Telegrams. PARIS, March 11. The ‘Echo da Paris’ says that M. Jdior, Swiss Minister at Petrograd. who has arrived at Stockholm, affirms that the Bolshevik Government in Russia are ready to come to an agreement with tho Entente in order to secure a raising of the economic blockade and to bring about the resumption of diplomatic relations. BRITISH SOCIALIST IDIOCY, LONDON, March 15. The ‘Daily Express’ states that the London Council of the Socialist party, in •coiyunction with international Anarchists and others, are seeking to establish a communist league, and have summoned a conference in London for March 16. It is hoped to link up with Lenia and Trotsky. A speaker at a recent secret revolutionary gathering said that Trotsky had asked British comrades to promote an agitation to stop sending British troops to Russia, and to foment labor troubles in Britain. BRITISH NAVAL AFFAIRS. LONDON, March 12. Fifty-four ex-German submarines have seen sold. Mr T. J. Macnamara (Admiralty UuderJecretaiy) announces the abandonment of fee building of lour battle cruisers, thus treeing tha slips for merchantmen. March 13. When discussing the Naval Estimates Mr Walter Long (First Lord of the Admiralty) stated that a vote of £60,000,000 would suffice for three or four months. The Government hoped then to be In a position to review the situation.^ Many ex-service members participated in the debate. The chief topics were the inadequate pay of the officers and men, and the necessity for enlarging tha opportunity of “the lower deck’ to obtain commissions. Mr Long said the Government took a sympathetic view of both demands.

[The cable news in this issue accredited 'jo "Che Times’ b?a appeared in that journal, bat only where eacpreaely stated i* such twwa tha editorlil opinion of ‘ The