Secrets of the Safe.

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 13790, 19 January 1918, Page 5

Secrets of the Safe.

Outline of Peace Plot. A GREAT CONFEDERATION OF NATIONS. BRITAIN AND RUSSIA TO BE LEFT OUTSIDE. ‘[Aust and N.Z. Cable Association.] LONDON, Jan. IT. The account of the “Daily Chronicle’s ” Milan corespondent of the revelations in the Caillaux case (part of which was reported yesterday) states that under the scheme drawn up in the ■documents found in Caillaux’s safe, General Sarrail and M. Caillaux were to organise a fictitious offensive. This was to bo with the understood connivance of Germany, and was to culminate in a German offer of peace. France was thereupon to begin official pourparlers in virtue of a secret preliminary agreement, by which Germany was to code a small portion of Lorraine in consideration of a pledge from France immediately to sever all connection with Britain. France was then to constitute, with Italy, a Latin “bloc/' which should conclude a formal pact with the Central Powers, with the object of forming a single federation of European States from which England and Russia were alone to be excluded. France and Italy were rather to aim at an understanding with Germany, France being content to return to the status quo, and Italy _ foregoing her major pretensions against Austria, the Giolittian organs and other newspapers actively advocating these schemes. The damning dossier has been lying for a year in a locker in the bank in Florence. The locker was hired by Madame Caillaux, and w-as opened toy the Italian authorities upon the request of the French Government. The contents were taken to Rome under an escort of military police, and there each document w r as copied. Photographed copies were forwarded to Captain’Bourchardon, who is collecting evidence in Paris against M. Caillaux. It is estimated that Madame ; s jewels are wx>rth £25,000. The newspaper ’ points out that the amazing revelations tally with M. Caillaux’s propaganda in 191/ among Italian politicians, in which he uro-ed that the war was simply a struggle for world dominion between England and Germany, and that the interests of France and Italy were diametrically opposed to the triumph o Britain.