The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1917.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4711, 8 November 1917, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1917.

It is a remarkable fact that the

“A Complete v Fallacy,”

Peace party at Home should continue to hold the view that the Allies ought to

offer to negotiate with the ■ Teuton Combine for a settlement of the war. Once again they have tabled a resolution to that effect in the House of Commons, and, as was the case in earlier attempts of a similar character, they have found themselves in a hopeless minority. They seem to regard the infamous world-wreckers, as a group of nations whose word niiglit be accepted despite all, tho evidence to the contrary which may be heaped up against them. Quite glibly they suggest-that the Huns might be able to provide satisfactory -guarantees for the evacuation of the Allied territory which they have occupied and thus enable preliminary negotiations for peace to be begun. Such talk is utter foolishness, for not only would the Allies'not be prepared to ~-trust the Huns, but on no occasion have the Huns ever offered to evacuate ; any Allied territory as a condition of peace. The Huns , would, unquestionably, welcome a cessation of the struggle—if the terms of peace were made to suit them. One can only take from the remarks of the Pacificist Commoners that they hold that the only outstanding difficulty in connection with the arranging of peace is the future of Alsace-Lor-raine. But, as Mri Balfour pointed out ;in his speech, this,,is a complete fallacy! It is now only too apparent that the Huns are still strong in

their desire to achieve their war aims, which have never been officially declared, but which it may • readily be taken for granted have for their object an .appreciable augmentation of territory and of prestige. All their talk about the holding of a peace conference only amounts to an attempt to throw- dust in the eyes of the Allied nations. If they were .sin-

cere in the setting up of a tribunal to negotiate peace one might imagine that they would be prepared to suggest that there should be an armjistice whilst the negotiations were in progress. But they are not pre-

pared to make any suggestion of the kind, which is clear evidence of their craftiness. Let us consider what would mostnlikely continue to happen during the sittings of such a peace committee. The attempted further invasion of Italy would continue as would also the desperate fighting bn

all other ' Fronts. On no account would the “sea wolves’* he recalled, but even whilst the peace commissioners were at work, word might be ! received of further acts of piracy and murder. It might even he the case that a Zeppelin raid involving loss of

life to many more non-combatants might be perpetrated. There is no proof at all that the Huns wish an armistice to be observed whilst the matter of peace is being considered. In strict fact, the Hun proposal with reference to a peace conference is at

this stage merely a piece of bluff. The object of the move is simply to make out to the Hun people that in the event of the Allies refusing to attend “such a conference —and refuse they certainly will—the onus for the continuance of the struggle must rest with the Allies. Me do not think that the Allies would on any , o-f-

account .agree to any armistice at the present juncture. They know only too well that in the interim the Huns would make the most of the situation. Even if their armies in the field “marked time” their munition works would continue full speed ahead, and their great armies of military and political spies would go on with their work unceasingly. The

on Willi Llltru UUin. - Allies must continue to take a firm stand, and effect must he secured for Mr. Lloyd-George’s pledge on their behalf that—the first condition of peace must be restoration, complete and without reservation, of the Allied territories occupied by the Huns no matter how long the war mav last.