PEACE TALK.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue 13047, 9 January 1917, Page 4

PEACE TALK.

(Australian and X.Z. Cable A&>n.) Received January 8. at ;j.*25 p.m. London. January 7. The. Hon. G. 11. Barnes, Minister of Pensions, in a speech at .Southwark, said:—President Wilsoiv'.s Note way entitled to all respect. They ought to assure President Wilson that they had no desire to smash Germany or anybody or anything else, except the militarism and pride which sought to smash, •everything so that the present war would not he lost to them. ■ (Reuters Telegram-..) Received January 8, at 5.'1~j p.in. London. January 7. ,Mr Barne.- said that the best way to ,get peace was to banish peace lrom their minds until they attained the objects for which they entered the war. The German peace feelers spoke in the. tone of the conqueror and in the mood of the murderer. They could not make terms with the "Wild Beast. They must. remember that they were largely fie - pendent on American munitions and other imports: but there was a more, important, reason for treating Mr "Wilson's Note courteously: America was. the other half of the English-speaking people—the freest and most democratic country in the world—and "wanted to be friendly with Britain. The Homeland might cultivate America's friendship and ought to tell President. "Wilson the Entente terms and objects, though perhaps these should not be published. Mr Barnes added that he thought the terms would include the evacuation of Belgium and the invaded territories of small people, with reparation: also Germany's acceptance of peace documents backed up by the moral force of tlio whole world.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received January 8. at -5.25 p.m. Amsterdam,' January 7. Count Czornin has arrived in Berlin and has conferred "with the Kaiser, and arranged conferences with the Chancellor, leading politicians, and bankers. Received January 8, at 7.25 p.m. Amsterdam, January 7. The Xieinve Courant (Berlin), after repeating the denial of Count Czernin. that the Central Powers' peace terms had been secretly furnished to President Wilson, says: —''The report is

based on a misunderstanding. The terms have not vet been disclosed to any neutral, and in view of the Entente's refusal of the German invitation there is no necessity to announce them. In any case, further .steps will not be taken until the Entente officially replies to President Wilson. Everything depends on the nature- of that reply. Germany has not yet abandoned the hope that there will be some satisfactory outcome of President Wilson's demarche." Received January •'). at 8.40 a.m. Rome, January 8. The Alessagero states that the Pope will send identical replies to Germauy's and America's peace Notes on Wednesday, narrating his personal efforts for peace and declaring that the moment is not opportune for definite movement. Received January 9. at 10.15 a.m. New York. January 8. The New York AVorld's Paris correspondent had an interview with the Belgian Minister of State, M. Van de Vyvere, wno said that clandestine communications from Belgian occupied territory showed that, the Belgians would unitedly support- the Government's attitude on the German peace.proposals. Peace was impossible without restoration of territory, reparation for damages, and guarantees against a repetition of the violation of treaty rights. IHe Belgians believe that ilr Wilson acted- in a humanitarian spirit, and his Note would help.- and not harm, the. Belgians' cause. A comparison of the Allies' and German views would suffice to convince the United tSates of the insincerity of Germany's attitude and the. impossibility of discussing Germauy's present proposals. Germany's nesd of peace was now very great, and possibly as the need becomes greater iti will extort more reasonable proposals. Received January S, at 10.30 p.m. New York, January S.

■Surprise was created in Berlin by the News Agency report that- Mr Gerard iu. a speech had declared that never" since the beginning of the war had relations between Germany and the United States been so cordial. He brought the olive branch from President "Wilson,

Herr von Gwinner compared Mr f Gerard's mission toiNoah's peace dove, which set out too early. Received January 9, at 0.40 p.m. "Washington, January The State Department lias instructed Mr Gerard to forward the text of his Berlin speech. Received January 9. at 11.15 a.m. Amsterdam, January- 8. At the American Chamber of Commerce (Berlin) dinner, to celebrate MiGerard's return.. Herr Helfferich said he hoped American-German relations would continue friendly. He denied that Germany suffered from over-mili-tarism; it was . merely a systematisation and organisation for defence. Compared with the French and Russian preparations. Germany exhibited too little militarism. The war showed that Germany was justified in bringing hor . army tip to the two or three-power -standard". He suggested that England. Trho claimed half the earth and the; whole sea, was the cradle of supeimilitarism. I

.. Mr Gerard, replying, said the relations between the L'nited States and Germany -were never better, and while Holhveg, Hindenbunr, Capelle, and Zimmerniami continued in their posi-

■iions he was certain their relation.-! would so continue. Ho brought the olive branch from Mr Wilson. Herr Gwinner. director of the Gorman Bank, said Mr Gerard, like the peace dove, finds it still raining, but ■sees the sign of the rainbow. The Austrian Emperor, in an army order, refers to the Entente's refusal to negotiate, and urges the troops to -further exertions, concluding with: "Forward with God." (United Service.) • Received January 9. at 0.30 p.m. -_ London, January .S. .A Geneva telegram states that the Austro-Hungariau ex-Foreign Minister, Goluchowski. lias arrived at Vevey. ostensibly on a family visit, but in reality he is inquiring for King Charles into the views and intentions of the j Allies.

EXCHANGE OF CIVILIAN PRISONERS.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received January 9, at 10.30 a.m. Melbourne, January 9. liisti actions have been. received from the Imperial Governmentto carry out the agreement between Britain and Gerr>;.' ' for the exchange of interned over 55 years old.

NEMY ALLIANCES,

■•i and N.Z. Cable As^ii.' : i&TS~&LW* 10-40 p.m..' tSSiterSs''". .r->?iuarv