TERMS OF PEACE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17250, 18 August 1916, Page 6

TERMS OF PEACE.

The statement attributed by a newspaper correspondent to prisoners taken by tho Russian forces in Galicia that tlr.-r Austrian general staff is discussing peace proposals on the basis of the territorial stutus quo before the war, does not lack credibility in all* the circumstances. The Central Powers are in occupation of all the Allied territory they are ever likely to occupy, and the pendulum of war is commencing to swing against them. The time is therefore extremely opportune for bargaining from the standpoint of the enemy. The German and Austrian armies are still in the field, and their strength is not broken, though the position in Galicia is growing increasingly serious for Austria. It has been predicted at various times and by various writers, ever since the war commenced, that the Central Powers would produce peace proposals as soon as tho pleasure against them made a contraction of their lines imminent. If the Allies were to permit the discussion of peace terms at present, Germany would bo in a position to offer a great deal of territory in return for comparatively little, and if her terms were accepted she would be free to re-attempt her self-iinposed task of work? conquest as soon as she felt that her hour had struck. There is an abundance of historical precedent to show that a national war which, ends in a draw is always renewed soouor or later arid fought to a finish, and the aim of the Allies in the present struggle must be to obtain such terms, or rather to dictate such terms, as shall effectually banish from Europe the potentialities for further war, at any rate for a reasonable period. Tho task of devising such terms, when tho time comes for their devising, will be fraught with many difficulties, and many conflicting schemes for ensuring permanent peace have already been propounded. The breakage of Germany’s military and economic power is, of course, regarded a 3 an essential in almost all quarters. Perhaps the most comprehensive set of proposals that has yet been drafted along the linc3 indicated is that recently put forward by Mr H. ■ W. Steed, the foreign editor of *“nTe Times.” Mr Steed advocates firstly the imposition of heavy indemnities upon the Central Powers, and the enforcement of payment by a continuation of the blockade and the occupation of territory until such time .as payment is completed. Subsidiary pioposals include a rearrangement ot European boundaries on a basis ol racial and linguistic communities. Alsace and Lorraine must be restored to France; Belgian territory must bo re-adjusted in accordance with Belgian requirements; Serbia must be reconstituted on an ethnological basis; Poland must be unified n 3 a self-govern-ing State under the Russian sceptre;

Bohemia, extended to include Motavia and the Slovak country of north-west-GJ ’R Hungary, must become an independent, or at least an autonomous State; Rumania, if she shall have helped effectively in tho Allied cause, must bo given tho Rumane regions of Hungary ami the Bukowina; Constantinople must be given to Russia, and tho Bosphorus and the Dardanelles must be opened to shipping; Italy must be given all Italian districts in the Trentino and tho Carnic Alps and on tho Triestino littoral and tho Istrian coast, ani must be allowed to establish naval control in the Adriatio by the possession of Pola, I/issa, and Valonau Tho difference between such an ambitious programme as that outlined by Air Steed and the status quo ante helium basis which may bo suggested by the enemy is tremendous. It is, in a way. a measure of what remains to bo accomplished before tho Allies can dictate proposals which 6hall stand as tho basis of a lasting pence, and does not encchirago anticipation of a speedy termination of hostilities. In the few weeks that must elapse before General Winter becomes the predominating factor on tho battlefields of Europe, however, many things may happen, and it may be that the end, though not yet in sight, lies nearer than the world dare hope for.