WAR AIMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17218, 22 January 1918, Page 5

WAR AIMS

GERMANY DROPS THE MASK.

A WAR OF CONQUEST.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. NEW YORK, January 20. The New York Sun's London correspondent states thai, according to advices received through, the Central News Agency, Germany no longer pretends to be waging a defensive war, but frankly avows that it is a war of conquest. The whole German, press reflects this changed attitude, and the starving people are being deluded into believing that the great victories over Russia and Italy demand the fruits which their leaders are desperately striving for. MR LLOYD GEORGE'S SPEECH. ANSWERING LABOUR OBJECTIONS. PREPARED TO NEGOTIATE AT ANY TIME. LONDON, January 19. Mr Lloyd George, after his speech to the trade union representatives concerning the Man Power Bill, invited and' answered numerous questions. Regarding the ad>visability of negotiating with the Germans when the latter were alleged to be whining and squealing for peace, he replied : " The Germans are always ready for peace at their own price which we are not prepared to pay. The moment that the Germans show a disposition to negotiate on equitable terms ther.o will be no reluctance to negotiate." Asked whether or not the best way of ascertaining the opinion of the German people was to allow British representatives to meet representatives of other Powers at Stockholm or elsewhere, the Prime Minister replied pointing.out that the German representatives would be chosen by their Government. " You can," he said, " only make peace with the Government. If the Government does not represent the people of Germany, let them change it, and if this Government does not represent the people of this country they can change it." A delegate interjected: "Give us the opportunity." Mr Lloyd George replied : "We have given you the best opportunity in the Franchise Bill, adding 8,000,000 voters to the electorates. You can have the opportunity any time vou lilte." The Prime Minister was considerably heckled regarding the Government's objections to the International Workers' Conference, apart from all Governments. He reiterated: " All the Allies and America have agreed that negotiations can be conducted only by representatives of the Governments, not iby sections of the people." Mr Lloyd George emphasised the difficulty of deciding as to when it would be desirable to enter a peace conference without putting out head into a noose. He was convinced that such a conference at present would aggravate andi not improve matters.

A delegate asked him whether President Wilson's reference to freedom of the seas was according to the views of the British Government.

The Prime Minister replied, emphasising the fact that Britain is in a different position from America or any Continental country. We mast guard most carefully any attempt to interfere with our capacity to protect our shores, our shipping, and our overseas communications.

A delegate asked what was meant by reconsideration of .the position of AlsaceLorraine.

The Prime Minister replied that " the British people will stand by France, who considers that peace as impossible till the question of Alsace-Lorraine is settled."

WOOLWICH WORKERS.

A DEMAND AND A THREAT. LONDON, January 20. (Received Jan. 21, at 7.20 p.m.) A meeting of 2000 Woolwich workers carried a resolution demanding that 4 the Government enter into peace negotiations ■with the other belligerents on a no-an-nexation no-indemnity basis, also the selfdetermination of all nations. The meeting pledged itself to co-operate in continuing the war if the negotiations disclose that German Imperialists ire the only obstacle to peace, but pledged itself to oppose the man-power proposals if the Government refused to enter into peace negotiations. BRITISH ENGINEERS SULK. LONDON, January 19. Official correspondence shows that the Amalgamated Society of Engineers declined to participate in the Man Power Conference, as the Government declined to consult separately with the society. FURTHER PEACE PROPOSALS. AN AMERICAN STATEMENT. WASHINGTON, January 20. Senator ~ewis ; speaking an Congress, said : "'We have reason to know that Berlin will shortly make peace proposals to the Allies. We also have information that the Pops is arranging another effort for peace." THE AUSTRIAN STRIKES. REALLY PEACE DEMONSTRATIONS. Renter's Telegrams. BERNE, January 20. Naws from Austria shows that the strikes and demonstrations are strongly political in character. The food question, though grave, is onljp a secondary matter. AntiOonrvm fsnluig has become intense since Hfiffrrrr'T aanaxatianisi declarations at

Brest-Litovsk. Tho Russian propaganda is evidently working in Austria; the circulation of the Arbeiter Zeitung has been prohibited outside the country. The latest issue of this paper available states that the strikers have formed a permanent committee to deal with the situation. Render, a Socialist deputy, declared that the people were being deceived over the peace negotiations. AUSTRIAN STRIKES SPREADING. MOVEMENT POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PARIS. January 20. (Received Jan. 21, at 6.60 p.m.) Strikes are general through Austria. One hundred thousand men are idle at Vienna. Noustax, a workers' delegate, informed General Stofer that the movement is political and economic, and especially aimed at peace. Demonstrators tried to wreck tie offices of the Reichspost, which has always urged the war against Serbia and contributed to the incitement of a general war. RUSSIAN DOCTRINES. INFLUENCING GERMAN ARMY. The Times. AMSTERDAM, January 20. (Received Jan. 21, at 6.50 p.m.) The tension between the Bavarians and Prussians is strained. Baa-on von Hertling's appointment was intended to quieten the^Bavarians, but has not succeeded, and their demands are increashig. Germans from Russia are employed to the utmost in order to keep their minds off the Maximalist doctrines, the prevalence of which is causing anxiety to the commanders. One German division has been sent from Belgium to Russia. AUSTRIA'S AIMS. SEMI-OFFICIAL STATEMENT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. COPENHAGEN, January 20. (Received Jan. 21, at 7.20 p.m.) The Vienna Fremdenblatt sema-official]y states that Austria, aims at a 110-annexa-tion peace and does not intend to incorporate occupied l districts, but will not tolerate the Russian revolutionary chaos in the newly-created independence States or the spread of tie Russian revolution in Austria.