GERMANY'S WAR AIMS

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15340, 1 October 1917, Page 3

GERMANY'S WAR AIMS

THE CHANCELLOR TALKS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. AMSTERDAM, September 30. Dr. Michaelis, in a speech in the Reichstag, declared that Germany's relations with neutrals are satisfactory. Germany will continue to par 7 tiapate in provisioning neutrals. He claied that only the hope of dissension in Germany caused British statesmen to adhere to their impossible war aimsGermany awaited with confidence and calm the military exertions of the United States. Germany's reply to the Papal Note had obviously embarrassed the majority of Germany's enemies. He must at present decline to specify Germany's war aims. He declared.that President Wilson's Note to the Pope was an attempt to sow dissension between the people and the. Government, of Germany. It had the opposite effect, for it bound all Germans more firmly in their resolve to oppose foreign interference. DENIAL AS TO PEACE ADVANCES. (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assii. & Beuter) COPENHAGEN, September 30. In the Reiclistag, Dr. Michaelis stated that the attitude of the German Government regarding war aims was clearly expressed, in his reply to the Papal Note. He declared that the statement that Germany had already communicated with an enemy government and in advance had renounced territory, was untrue. Germany had free hands for the eventual peace negotiations. This also referred to Belgium. STATEMENT BY THE VATICAN. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Services.) ROME, September 30. The Vatican also denies that it has received a separate German Note regarding the restoration of Belgium on certain conditions. According to reliable Vatican information, the Holy See asked Berlin to explain why the German reply to the Papal Note contained no allusion to Belgium or the occupied French territory. Germany replied that acceptance of the proposals of the Pope concerning the evacuation of occupied territories was implied in the decision of the Reichstag regarding annexations, to which the German Government still adhered. GERMANY FEARS UNIVERSAL OSTRACISM. (Reuter.) m LQND'' September 30. _ Lord Milner, speaking at an American luncheon in his honour, declared that the prospect of almost universal ostracism was beginning to weigh on the minds of the Germans as certainly as it was beginning to depress the spirits of their confederates. For that reason a new pan-German party had arisen to strengthen the waning influence of the Junkers and preach the doctrine that might is right in its most aggressive and repulsive form.