SECRETS OF THE WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19513, 17 December 1926, Page 13

SECRETS OF THE WAR.

A PEACE OFFER OF 1917, OPINION OF EX-KAISER. A. and N.Z. LONI)ON» Dec. 13. The Berlin correspondent of the Times states that an echo of the unsuccessful peace negotiations made by the Pope in 1917 occupied the attention of the Reichstag committee which is inquiring into the origin and conduct of the war. Herr Michaelis, who was Chancellor in 1917 and who defeated the peace resolution in the. Reichstag, was'cross-examined regarding the suppression of a letter from Curia Romana (the Papal Court). The letter stated that, the British represents tive in Rome had informed the Curia that Britain and France were ready for pea-co negotiations in the event of a satisfactory declaration being made regarding Belgium. Herr Michaelis was also questioned re garding the suppression of the German reply refusing the evacuation of Belgium, thereby upholding the annexation views of the militarists and wrecking the proposals of the Reichstag. 1 The Reichstag was ignorant of these letters and approved a vague reply. Herr Michaelis to-day declared that the reply was tantamount to conditional assent. He added that - inquiries showed that the British offer was not seriously meant. Herr Michaelis produced a letter from the ex-Kaiser, dated November last, declaring: " My view in 1917 was that the German army and navy were honourably in possession of Belgium, which they could not be asked to surrender unconditionally I still think it would have been an irresponsible act unequivocally to have renounced Belgium before receiving guarantees essential to the welfare of my people." Herr Michaelis said that in exchange for the evacuation of Belgium Germany wanted Britain to agree to her possession of a Mediterranean base at Corfu or Valona.