GERMANY'S PEACE KITE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14712, 18 September 1918, Page 3

GERMANY'S PEACE KITE.

REGARDED A^ OUTCOME VV ALLIED SUCCESSES.

(Reiner's Telegram.) , . PARIS. Sept. 16. ' The Austrian police proposal is regard•ed as the outcome of' the Al/ied successes. It is the general opinion that France, Britain, and America wtfl refuse tlio offer, but thera is speculation whether' the Allied will seize the occasion to address 1 lit* people of the four hostile countries direct rather than through the rulers. Le Journal says : "The- offer is a confession of weakness."' Le llomni'e Libre .says: ''Our victorious -forces are driving out the invader. We shall not allow them to lay down their arms." I^c Petit Journal says : "Austria, is ! now testing the ijround. If the test I fails Germany will disavow any connection therewith.". The Matin says : "Such an obvious j peace comedy will deceive nobody." (Australian ana N.Z. Cable Association.) NEW YORK, Sept. 16. With the exception of the New York Times the American press stresses the impossibility of considering tho Austrian, peace offer. Official circles refrain from expressing an opinion until the President has digested the tvot-o from Vienna, but it is understood that there is not the slightest' doubt the >eply will be a reiteration of President Wilson's appeal to force and nothing but force as a means of imposing the Allies' will upon their enemies. It is folt that Austria- is m-eneily flying Germany's peace kite. The United' States is not willing to be taken m by insincere promises of future good behaviour. The genejral belief is that the American advance at St. Mihiol has led to Axistria's action.

AMSTERDAM, Sept. 1.6. The North German Gazette stales: — "The German . Government is ready, gJadly and without .delay, to participate m tlie discussians suggested by AustroHungary."

The German newspapers dissociate Germany from the Austrian action, and consider- f.hatl>Ke oiote merely strengthens the pacifists among the Central peoples. They anticipate an entire rejection, which ■"•will be further pro'xf that the enemy is responsible for the pirolouigation, of the war.