FRENCH SCORE BIG VICTORY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17123, 26 October 1917, Page 5

FRENCH SCORE BIG VICTORY.

VALUABLE STRATEGICAL IMPORTANQE ATTACHED TO ftliGLO FBEHCH THRUST PMEE9IG SJ^FAOTMULY DETAILS OF THE REJECTED OFFER F«SBi TO ¥MXI.

United Press Assoaiation—Copyright.

GERMANY'S PEACE PRO- ; POSAL?. •

THE OVERTURE TO FRANCE.

UNACCEPTABLE CONDITIONS,

HISTORY OF NEGOTIATIONS.

Received October 25, 9.30 p.m. ; LONDON, October 25. The "Daily Telegraph's" Milan correspondent gives the following details of the German peace proposals, which were largely the cause of M. Ribot's resignation, as the Socialists ; allege M. Ribot should have made the proposals . public. The German proposal was to restore Belgium and cede Alsace-Lorraine in exchange for compensation in Russia. The proposal was made to M. Bfiand by an accredited Belgian diplomat from Switzerland. Yon Buelow had nothing to do with the proposal, which came direct from the German Government through the regular .djjjfpmatic channel. , M. Briand immediately made it a condition that all the Allies m>ust be informed before a reply was given. Mr. Balfour was the first Minister to be informed, and he thought the proposal unacceptable. He conf e'<*red with his colleagues, and they agreed. The Italian Government gave a similar negative reply. All the Allied Governments answered with a full ■ knowledge of the matter. The pour- . parlers lasted a month, ending on •October , Ist. Germany was. most, anxious to have the proposal accept-' ed, but it was unacceptable, not only because it implied the annexation of huge slices of Russia, but also contemplated no concessions to Italy, Serbia and Roumania, and no : disavowal of German militarism. Germany's offer of financial aid to. Bel:gium was coupled with demands for ; privileges at Antwerp and military concessions. The acceptance of the ■ proposal would have been a hu^e ; triumph for German militarism.