PEACE PROPOSALS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3314, 19 September 1917, Page 16

PEACE PROPOSALS.

A report is being circulated among diplomats at Washington purporting to be the Gorman peace terms. This- it attracting considerable interest. The terms include: The restoration of Belgium, Northern France, Serbia, and Rumania. This to bo paid for by the sale of the German colonies to Britain. , . , , . Alsace and Lorraine to be independent States. . , . Disarmament and an international police. _ ~ . The freedom of the sea, with Britain controlling the English Channel until the Dover-Calais Channel tunnel is constructed. The report generally is regarded as a f gglgi*. The United Press Agency publishes a Berlin interview with Dr Schiedemann, Social Democrat leader, who states that President Wilson can bring about immediate peace if ho only acts in support of his words. He states that further bloodshed will be unnecessary if America accepts Germany's assurance that she will democratise herself within a generation. This interview is interpreted as indicating that Dr Schiedemann is still the tool of the Militarist Junkers. The Pope is optimistic that peace negotiations will be entered on before Christmas, and that the war will end by New Year or in the spring. His optimism is based on the hope of the Central Powers replying to the Pope's Note, giving an outline of precise peace conditions which will be acceptable to the Entanto. Vatican circles have* learned that Ger-

many's peace reply to the Papal Note demands the independence of Belgium from any political or economic alliances. The Hamburger Fremdenblatt states that the Belgian question occupies an important place in Germany's reply to the Papal Note. Bofore Germany explains her inten- ..-■ "■■••_"!un the Entente must agree to the following basic peace condi- - m intention of crushing Germany; no reparation ; abandonment (_>i Frances claim to Alsace-Lorraine; no dismemberment of Germany's Allies; recognition that Germany did not cause the war.

The Vossische Zcitung says it is asserted that Great Britain made peace advances to Germany. The "Vossische Zeitung declares that this announcement explains violent movements on the Berlin Bourse, and suggests that financiers sold their stocks to small holders who were more susceptible to rumour.

German newspaper statements that Great Britain made overtures of peace to Germany are officially declared to be absolutely unfounded. The Tyd's Vienna correspondent states that the Central Powers' reply to the Pope accepts the Note as the basis of negotiations It says the Powers would be willing to discuss the exchange of occupied territories and also arbitration on disarmament. The reply offers a conciliatory settlement of the Belgium, Poland, and Balkan questions, on condition that Entente Powers are equally conciliatory. Hungarian church dignitaries and many Conservative Deputies are arranging meetings throughout Hungary in favour of immediate peace. Tho Daily Express correspondent at The Hague says the city is buzzing with senen tional peace rumours of German origin, inspired by fear of another winter of war, a shortage of meat and bread in Berlin, and an ever-growing recognition of America's strength. Th" Himburg Fremdenblatt announces that Britain's peace terms include a new treaty regarding Belgium's independence, France and Germany to exchange territory r>>'H : ncr Fmnpo to obtain a portion of Alsace and Lorraine, and Germany certain French territory. Great Britain would offer no objection to Germany sinking- full i>ornpensatiqn in the East; Britain to retain South-west Africa, but allow Germany to compensate herself in Central Africa at Portugal's expense. The Fremdenblatt comments: "How selfish Britain is. She willingly sacrifices Russia and the small Balk-in nations." AU lonrl'Tii? newspapers in London point out that Kuhlmann is the originator 01 the stories _ of Britain's alleged peace overtures, wishing to prepare the German public for the concessions which are embodied in the Auetro-German reply to the Pope. Another of Kuhlmann's objects was

to insinuate that Britain is envisaging a peace which will serve her ends, ignoring the interests of her Allies. He, with equal cunning, suggests for the benefit of the Gorman public that the prospect of famine, besides war-wcarinees, is the underlying motive of the latest movo lyingly attributed to us. Similarly, in connection with the Argentine affair, the German newspapers have boon officially inspired to express indignation at Count Luxburg's conduct, the German Government hoping that if he is made a scapegoat the quostion will be buried. Official: The British Government knows nothing of the reported peace meeting of financiers in. Switzerland, but if it transpires that British subjects met enemy subjects the offenders will be punished. GERMANY'S MAN POWER. Mr Warner Allen writes: Germany's dwindling man ; power is shown by the fact that she is calling up recruits as they reach the age of 17 years. Germanv during the war had 14,000,000 fighters available between the ages of 17 and 45, of whom ..5,725.000 wore mobilised in 1914. She added 2,450,000 to the army in 1915, 1,800,000 in 1916. and 450,000 in 1917. The rest of the 1919 and 1920 contingents .make an array of 11,200,000, of whom the Germans admit that 1,158.000 have been killed, 2.922,000_ wounded, and 710,000 missing. The Allies' calculations show a permanent loss of 4,000,000. The German man-power is thu3 distributed now: —There is an army of 5.5C0.000; will shortly be incorporated, 1,300.000; in hospital, 500,000; abroad, 200 000; permanently unfit for the army, 2,000.000; able bodied men required for the interior, 5C0.000. Mr Frank Simonds, writing in the New York Tribune, examines the latest war statistics. He says that Germany confronts the certainty of a fourth year of war with a reserve of less than a million men, composed of boys. Mr Simonds believes that Germanv will exhaust her last reserves before September, 1918, and will then be forced to chooso between shortening her lines or courting disaster. Advicee from Paris state that. Germany had 14.000.000 men at the beginning of the war, of whom 10.600.000 have since served. There are now 4.500.000 at the front, while 4,500.000 represent the casualties, prisoners, and missing. GERMAN BRUTALITY. Repatriated Australians tell many stories of brutal cruelty and some of cold-blooded murders. A petty officer belonging to the navy was kicked to death in the hospital after being wounded in battle. There were 12 British soldiers in a hospital, sick and wounded, and they told the authorities they were unable to work. A German non-commissioned officer thereupon ordered men to beat the British wounded with rifles. Petty officers attempted to strike the non-commissioned officer, but were murdered for the effort. The authorities held an inquiry, but smoothed the incident over. The State Department (United States) has received reports of cruelties in _ German prison camps. Some Russian soldiers cut a tunnel with a knife and escaped They state that the diet was solely bread and turnip souo, with occasionally a little horse meat. The tortures included enforced standin g to attention for 24 hours and suspension by° the wrist. One labour battalion was reduced from 2000 to 500 men in consequence of these sufferings. REPATRIATED PRISONERS Four hundred and fifty incapacitated British prisoners from Germany arrived in London, and were astonished to find plenty of food in Phi gland and London still standMng, in view of the lies with which the Germans fed prisoners. They much enjoyed cups of real tea, in contrast to the acorn tea provided during their captivity. King George sent a message to the repatriated soldiers, welcoming them back to the Old Country, for whose honour and safety their duty had been nobly done, and hoping that "happiness and home life among friends may heal their wounds and obscure the memories of their sufferings." NATIONAL SERVICE. Replying to a deputation, the Minister of National Service stated that the department had been reorganised with a view to meeting the forthcoming demand for more recruits Ho emphasised the need that the army should bo well balanced, and the civil population should do the necessary, war work and maintain a healthy public opinion. Men of all military ages must be recruited, and some men of all ages must jemam at home. . __ .. , _, j ne Director-general of National Service proposes the drastic extension of a scheme to include all male civilians. TRADE UNION CONFERENCE. An Inter-allied Trade Union Conference has opened at London. The Management Committee's statement said that the formula "No indemnities or annexations" needed explanation before it could be seriously discussed. It ignored the point of view of the British self-governing colonies and dominions, and its adoption would antagonise the dominions. All Germany s friends are aware that if Great Britain and the dominions were involved in a conflict on this subject it would be a German diplomatic triumph. . . - , Mr Bonar Law, in a previously unpublished speech to a trade union deputation urging conscription of wealth, said: "It is simply a question of what is best in the country's interests, whether to levy on capital or taxation spread over a long period. I do not say the levy is impossible j but it would be ruinous to attempt it during the war." GERMANY'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS. The Daily Chronicle's Amsterdam correspondent states that the military have suppressed Count Reventlow's Tages Zeitung and two other Berlin papers, no reason being given for this step. The announcement is made at the Ooloano recruiting office that boys of 15 may enlist. . . ~ The membership of the socialist party in Germany has decreased from 1,000.000 in 1914 to 240,000 in 1917. Subscribers to Socialist paoers have fallen from 1,500,000 to 762,000. . German officials are pressing the Mayors of Alsace and Lorraine towns to _ organise meetings and petitions demanding that Alsace and Lorraine shall remain German. AN AUSTRIAN SENSATION. Startling revelations have come to light in Vienna. The Austrian Government at the outbreak of war organised a reign ol terror acrainst its political opponents. Df Frank, the Magyarphile leader, etates thai

Raovitc-h, Chief of Police in Vienna, sent a subordinate and urged him (Dr Frank) to form a "Black Hand" to kill the leading Serbo-Croatian politicians. Dr Frank replied that" ho would never consent, though tho victims were his political enemies. Baovitch later said: "It is a pity these fellows were not. assassinated." CHINA DECLARES WAR. China has declared war on Austria-Hun-gary. The authorities in Peking have put on the black list many German residents for attempting and instigating crimes in the past few months. URUGUAY TAKES ACTION. Lloyd's reports that tho Uruguay Government has taken all German ships sheltering at Montevideo and landed the crews SITUATION IN GREECE. King Alexandres,' in receiving the Greek Chamber's reply to the Speech from the Throne, described himself as "the faithful guardian of the Constitution and of the national traditions, and a sincere collaborator with the Chamber in all decisions •tending to the realisation of Greece s national aims." M Venizelos will shortly visit Paris and London. . , Greek troops have re-entered Janma, and were enthusiastically welcomed. Before the departure of the Italian troops the Italian commander thanked the inhabitants for their attitude towards him and his men during the occupation. Router's Agency learns that Greece is mobilising. She has called up subjects belonging to Old and New Greece born between 1884 and 1897 inclusive. The Ecclesiastical Court has ordered the indictment of 15 prelates for assenting to the anathema on M. Venizelos in December. ■ -FRENCH POLITICS. A Ministry has been formed as follows: —M. Painlevo, Premier and Minister of War; M. Ribot, Foreign Minister; M. Steeg, Interior; M. Chagt, Marine; M. Loucheur, Armaments; M. Talotz, Finance. The Socialists promise to support the Government in the interests of the defence of France. The Socialists' objection to M. Ribot erise from their demand that the Allies should publish all treaties, end secret diplomacy, and announce conditions for a lasting peace free of all annexations. The Socialists also demand that civil delegates be sent to the various armies to represent the Government. Other demands include State exploitation of national resources, and that the Government should be endowed with, extensive powers for the acquisition of articles required for war. The unreasonable nature of many of the Socialist demands has aroused anger in politioal oircles. It is pointed out that the French Socialists are copying the methods of tho Russian Soviet, whose interference with the army produced disaster. There has been a remarkablo development in the so-called Turmel affair. M. Turmel, a French Deputy, left Swiss banknotes worth £IOOO in his room at the Chamber of Deputies in July, and did not claim them until last week, when he explained that he had received the money for legal services. He denied that he received it in Switzerland for disclosing events at the secret session of Deputies in June. A parliamentary inquiry has been opened. M. Turmel on Saturday attempted to enter Switzerland, but wa3 stopped at the frontier, bearing an expired passport. ITALIAN MINISTERIAL CRISIS. Following a Ministerial crisis involving Ministerial changes, the Corriere della Sera learns that, owing to grave developments in the internal situation of Italy, an extraordinary meeting of Cabinet was summoned, whan five Ministers had left Rome. ->. GOVERNMENT OF POLAND. The Kaiser and the Emperor Charles announce the immediate formation of Cxoutive bodies in Poland, pending the representation of the people on a democratic basis, while the Central Powers will deal only with matters arising out of th© war. MR HOLMAN IN AMERICA. Mr Holman, New_ South Wales Premier, has had many invitations to remain in America fo* a few weeks and deliver addresses on Australia, but he has not yet decided whether to do eo. Interviewed on behalf of the Australian press, Mr Holman said he believed the war was in its last year. The submarine situation was less menacing now, and submarines Would not be a decisive factor in onding tho war. The shipping losses at present were greater than the construction, but the losses were lessening, and ho believed that within ft, short time the construction would overtako osses. Britain was bending all her energies to winning the war, and everywhere there was a feeling of confidence and determination. Mr Holman may informally discuss with a United. States official tho future of Australian- American trade. NEW ZEALANDERS HONOURED. The Distinguished Service Order has been awarded to Lioutenant-eommandor Sanders, V. 0., of Now Zealand. [The latest honour js a posthumous one, as word was received that Lieutenant Sanders was killed in action after the V.C. had been awarded to him.j The Distinguished Service Order has been conferred on Major C. PI. Evans, of the New Zealand Infantry, and the bar to the Military Cross has been awarded to Lieutenant "A. Melles. Military Crosses have been awarded to tho following New Zealanderst—Captain H. D. M'Hugh (Cyclists), Lieutenant E. R. Wells (Mounted Rifles), Second Lieutenants N. F. Little. C. 11. Taylor and T. L. Ward (Infantry). Royal Red Crosses have been awarded to the following New Zealanders: First class: Misses Evelyn Brooke and Alice Read. Second class: Misses Jessie Backuell, 'J.QUiso Brandon, Beatrice Brooks, Louie Menie, Winifred White. GENERAL NEWS. The Allies' Conference (arranged at the request of Russia) has been postponed till October. Professor He-wins, M.P., succeeds Mr Steel Maitland as Under-secretary for the Colonies. Mr A. H. iSteel Maitland has been appointed secretary to a new department for dealing with foreign trade and reorganising the Consular service. Tho British Admiralty has deoided to build a largo dry dock at Boaohley, at the

confluence of the Wye and Severn. It has taken over 250 acres of land. A now food economy campaign is being inaugurated in England. Lord Rhondda states that the absolute need of economy in the use of ail foodstuffs cannot be too strongly urged. Twenty-six merchant vessels, aggregating 110,000 tons, wero launched in japan in August. A further 180,000 tons will be completed in October. The British, Coal Controller has offered the Scottish colliery enginemen on increase of Is 3d per shift. The executive advises the withdrawal of tho strike notices. A Liverpool firm has accepted a £60,000 risk at 400 to 1 that Lord Kitchener will be found alive after the Avar. It refused orders for another £200,000. The British Minister of Labour, Mr Hodge, states that tho numbers of pensioners are increasing by hundreds weekly. Ho will ask the Treasury for money to establish a national experimental laboratory to secure the best artificial limbs. A stock of German bombs was discovered among cargoes in ships at Narvik. The evident intention was that they should _ be " spurlosversenkt " —sunk without a vestige. The Rumanian Consolidated Oilfields have claimed £1,270,000 against the British Government on account of _ Colonel Norton Griffiths for cho destruction of their oil plant, wells, and stores at" the time of the Russian invasion.

In furtherance of a scheme for employing in England in useful callings prisoners now interned in Switzerland, several English firms will provide the cost of training for a certain number at the piano and leather trades, with the promise of emplovment when thev are repatriated. The Red. Cross Society' contributed £2BOO for installing and training 500 men in various trades. A similar scheme for prisoners interned in Holland is being considered. Lieutenant Lord Basil Blackwood has been killed in action. He was the third son of the first and brother of tho present Marquis of Duffcrin and Ava, who has three daughters, but no son. The heir-presump-tive to the Marquis of Duffcrin now is Lord Frederick Blackwood, the deceased officer's younger brother, who has been military secretary to the Governor-general of Australia since 1914, having retired from the army in 1913. Lord Basil Blackwood wa3 also a brother-in-law of the Governorgeneral of Australia. AUSTRALIAN ITEMS. The Government's sale of enemy shares realised £38,000. The Federal Government has issued the Erospectus of a new war loan of £20,000,000, earing 4g- per oent., and redeemable in 1927. The loan is being issued at par. In the House of Representatives the Prime Minister (Mr Hughes) announced that the present Federal Ministry had not made any representations to the Imperial Government regarding territory in the * Pacific being added to the Commonwealth territory; but representations on the subject were mado by the previous Labour Ministry. No suggestions had been made to the Imperial Government regarding peaoe terms.