PRO-GERMAN PEACE CONFERENCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10110, 18 October 1917, Page 5

PRO-GERMAN PEACE CONFERENCE.

SIXTY-FIVE AUSTRO-GERMAN DELEGATES AT BERNE. THE LIGHT THAT FAILED. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. Received October 18, 8.35 a.m. BERNE. Oct. 17._ A wireless message states that Swiss Catholics, with pro-German sympathies convened an International Congress at Berne for the 15th inst. to, promote a durable

peace. Sixty-five Austro-Germans, including- Herr Matthias Erzcborger, throe _ Italians, one Russian and one named Britisher, arriwul to participate in the conference, hut .the failure of the movement from the International standpoint led to its postponement to the 12th of November. SOCIALISTS WANT PEACE. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. AMSTERDAM, Oct. 16. Herr Elbert, president of the, Socialist Party in the Reichstag, presiding at a Socialist meeting at Wurzburg, .said that a speedy conclusion of peace was a vital necessity for the workmen of all countries. The policy of the “mailed fist” after the war’s frightful sorrows would disappear. If a ballot were taken, nine-tenths of the people would approve of peace. Pie declared that the Michaelis regime spells the collapse of the present government system in Germany. Another report states .that Elbert said the Socialists favoured Alisace ami Loitraine having complete public autonomy and a constitution on an equality with other federal States.