PAPAL PEACE NOTE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17088, 21 August 1917, Page 5

PAPAL PEACE NOTE

RECEPTION IN GERMANY. HOSTILE PRESS COMMENTS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, August 19. German papers generally are unfavourable to the papal Note as inconsonant with Germany's interests. The Tages Zeitung says the Note simply means Germany's ruin. The Vossische Zeitung says that Germany iwill readily solve the Belgian question in conformity with the Pope's wishes, but France must first give up all 'hopes of Alsace-Lorraine. Peace must bring an equilibrium for all. The Koelnische Volks Zeitung says that the proposed division of Alsace and Lorraine between Prussia and Bavaria lias been abandoned by proclamation, as an autonomous confederate State is likely -in a few weeks. AUSTRIA'S DESIRE FOR PEACE. APPEAL BY EMPRESS. ROME, August 20. (Received August 20, at 10.10 p.m. ) lie Giornale d'ltalia states that prior to the issue of the Papal Note the Austrian Empress actively corresponded with the Pope, imploring him to make peace proposals. Germany was aware of the preliminaries, but took no direct part. The Pope intended to close the Note with a proposal for a general armistice, but Vienna considered the time inopportune for revealing the weakness of the Central Powers. MASONS WORKING FOR PEACE. NEGOTIATIONS AFTER VICTORY. Reutei's Telegrams. NEW YORK, August 20. (Received August 20, at 10.10 p.m.) The Tribune published a cablegram from Mr Garvin (editor of the Observer) stating that the Masons are working secretly on peace terms agreed upon by Masonic delegates from the Entente Allies, and are ready to launch a great peace effort to combat the effort of the Vatican Note and the Stockholm Conference. "We will negotiate after ivictorv but not before." .