AUSTRIA ON LAST LEGS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14711, 17 September 1918, Page 3

AUSTRIA ON LAST LEGS.

THREE SEPARATE. OVERTURES,

AUSTRIAN PROPOSAL. "QUEFRFD" ,W GEH.MAN ARROGANCE,

(Australian and. N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received Sept. 17, 9.6 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 16. lhe newspapers generally ridicule the peace- offers, though t'hev point out that they show Austria is on her last legs. ' There are really three separate overtures. Apart from the Austrian olive brunch, Germany proposes that all the Powers should withdraw their troops from the Morman coast, the trick lying 1 m the fact that tlie Allies are well' established on 'tHo' Mnrnian coast, while no Germans are within many miles. Tlie second effort is a definite peace offer to Belgium, It includes no indemnity and no reparation, only cessation of hostilities and evacuation 'if -Belgium consents to remain neutral to the end of the war. Germany realises she must soon withdraw from Belgium. Tf tiermany can obtain a treaty which bars Belgian territory to Allied troops and aircraft she will add enormously to the difficulties of attacks against- German territory and c : ties. One of the strangest proposals is the suggestion that much-in-jured Belgium should act a* a sort of mediator between her present Allies and Germany-, with the object of securing restoration of the German colonies. The consideration offered to Belgium is tlie re-establishment of her qcoimmjc. and political independence, after the Avar, and that old economic treaties with Germany will be renewed. Tlie proposal adds that the Flemish question must be considered and the Flem'sh minority, which aided the German invaders, shall not be penalised.

The Daily Chronicle's Amsterdam cor. respondent writes : The Austrian proposal for a peace conference was first seriously considered at the recent imposing meeting at German Headquarters. Indeed it was the only subject, discussed at any length. The Austrian demand for peace proposals was so insistent that the German Government had to give an unwilling consent.

Tlie Germans also acted m ihe hope that such might have an effect on Entente pacifists, whom the German Government credit, with having great influence. It is also thought the proposal mii'ht have an effect on the British general election.

Knowing that the Austro-Hungarian proposal was Homing the German Government set nibout the task of "queering" whatever chance .such a step m:ght have. After the long conversation at Headqiiaiters, von Payer's speech fixed terms with a solid backbone of pan-Germanism. Von Payer talked about Belgium's gaiilt. His assertion that Germany was the attacked party and the proposal that the Entente should not interfere with the Brest Litovsk peace makes the AustroHungarian move useless. The Kaiser's blatant pomposity and insufferable arrogance at Essen shows the. insincerity of the whole business.