PEACE PROSPECTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9812, 8 November 1917, Page 5

PEACE PROSPECTS

WILD ROHODBB IN BERLIN OFFF.P.S SHOULD BE MADE TO ’ RUSSIA AND ITALY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian an! !s Z Cable Association. AMSTERDAM!, November b. The wildest rumours of early peace are circulating in Beilin. It is stated that Baron Hertling’s maiden speech in the Reichstag on November 22nd will contain a proposal for holding a preparatory peace conference at Berne, to which each belligerent will send two delegates. The “Vossischo Zcitung” says: “Now is the time for Germany to offer an easy peace to Russia and Italy. They must see that England is unable to help t/iom, and that only the Central Rowers can solve their food difficulties.” SUGGESTIONS IN RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT. Reuter’s Telecrama. RETRO GRAD, November t>At the meeting of the Preliminary Parliament, M. tjkoholetf, who is bo represent the Russian democracy at tho forthcoming Allied Confer/nce, admitted that tho army was in a sad state. He urged that the Allies should invito the enemy to discuss Pe M 6 Terestschcnko, Foreign Minister, declared that tho anarchy m Russia was growing worse. The wm ol world desired peace. _lt must be a peace without annexations, hut Russia must not accept any sort of peace.

MOTION IN THE COMMONS VIGOROUS DISCUSSION FOLLOWS. Australian N.Z. Cable Association. (Received November 7, 5 p.m.) LONDON, November 6. In the House of Commons, debating the Consolidated Fund Bill, Mr H. B Lees-Smith (Liberal Northampton) moved that provided satisfactory guarantees were obtained regarding the independence and restoration of Belgium and the evacuation of other occupied territory, no obstacle should bo placed in the way of peace negotiations which might embody an equitable settlement of the Alsace-Lorraine question and provide'machinery for the avoidance of tuture wars. The mover declared that a secret agreement existed between France and Russia that in the event of the Allies. being victorious Germany, in addition to AlsaceLorraine, would lose great tracts 'of territory on the west bank of the Rhine and the whole of the Saar Valley.. . Mr Balfour interposed that Britain had entered into no such agreement. The statement related to an agreement between France and the Czar. Mr Robert Lambert (Liberal—Cricklade), referring to the League of Nations, declared that we must welcome Germany into it. Cries of “Never. “Remember the Lusitania!’ ; Mr Ramsay Macdonald (Labour—Leicester) wished to adopt the Russian formula: “No annexations or indemnities.” He said the country should clearly state its war aims and make those "aims real. Mr A. J. Balfour, Foreign Secretary, said these ; discussions, did .not assist the Government in its object' .of obtaining an honourable peace. Supporters of the motion appeared to desire that peace should not take place until all Europe was democratised according to Mr Ramsay Macdonald’s pattern. Nothing would unite Germany more against her enemies than that those enemies desired to force upon her not the form of government she desired, but the form her enemies happened to admire.' Mr Balfour characterised the alleged secret treaty for making over parts of Germany to France or to some independent community as a mare's nest. No such treaty existed. We were fighting in order that Europe might bo free from German militarism. Germany declined to state her war aims in replying cither to 1 the Pope’s Note or to President Wilson. He condemned the misrepresentation in .the House of the Government's 'official statements. Mr Asquith combated the view that if the Alsace question were out of the way or settled separately the other war aims were within reach of attainment. This was a complete fallacy. Mr Bonar Law moved the closure, which wp.s carried by 282 votes to 23. Mr Lees-Smith’s motion was negatived without division.

GENERAL VON BERBER SHOT WHILE MOTORING IN UDINE. By Teleerapli—Press Association—Copyrijtit Australian and 'vZ Cable Association. ROME, November 6. General von Berrer was shot while motoring in Udine by a Carabineer, and notkillcd at Riga, as the Germans claimed. A message yesterday from Amsterdam Stated that General von Berrer, commanding the Wurtemberg armies, was killed while visiting the trenches at Riga. A DOUBTFUL STATEMENT “GERMANY ALREADY A DEMOCRACY.” By Telegraph— Association—Copyright Australian ami N.'A. Cable Association. XEW YORK, November 6. Herr Erzberger (leader of the Centre Party) announces that Germany has already changed from an autocracy into a democracy. FEDERAL LIBERTV LOAN £20,500,000 SUBSCRIBED. By Te’eerapli—Press Association— Copvrfahi (Received November 7, 9.20 p.m.) MELBOURNE, November 7. The Liberty Loan reached £20,500,000. '