KAISERDOM’S VIEW.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4817, 14 March 1918, Page 6

KAISERDOM’S VIEW.

“IF LLOYD-GEOIIGE DARE COME TO THE PEACE TABLE?” AMSTERDAM, Jan. 30. Koelnisclie Zeitung, for long the Kaiser’s favorite paper, commonly known as the Cologne Gazette, has been this year discussing “reports in the British press to the effect that the British Government is consjder-a-.fr the- peace conditions cf the Cential Powers as a serious step to which they will give a serious and well-considered reply, provided tlie j conditions ard officially submitted. This semi-official German paper says :— “They admit thereby that tlieir replies to former peace overtures were not serious. As against .his, we might recall that we submitted our proposals to the Russians, and not to the British, . and that, consequently, we have no tears n to make a new offer to the remainder of the Entente. If the, Russians want to submit our condj- j 1 3011 s and theirs, then that is their own affair; but one tlii.ug is certain, and that is, if Lloyd-George and his friends really muster enough cour- ; ge to come to the conference table, they will not find an easy task awaiting them there.” The Koelnisclie Volkszeitung (People’s Gazette), also quoted by Reuter’s Amsterdam correspondent, says: —“lt appears that the peace question has entered upon a critical stage. The Western Entente Powers recognise that the Russian Government is resolute, and that they Jack the means to thwart, by d reet action, an agreement between tlie Quadruplice (Central European Powers) and Russia. They are, therefore. attempting, if possible, to reach tlie goal by devious ways. It is imperative to obtain immediately 1 clear idea of the intentions of the Entente, so that they liaye neither the time nor the opportunity fatally to confuse an issue which, in itself, is quite a simple one.” “This is quite feasible (tbo "\ olkszeitung adds) by giving the unequivocal • interpretation of the formula: •No forcible annexation and no indemnity,’ and by informing the Entente that France must abandon her claims to Alsace-Eorraiue. German colonies must bo returned. Palestine must be-restored. Bagdad and all Mesopotamia must bo yielded up. Egypt and the Nile must be ren- ' dcred back to the Turk a s in mi. Italy must renounce her territorial aspirations. “For the ‘famous reparation’ which they are good enough to ask from us there is 110 room w.thin the scope of this formula,” says the Cologne mentor.