PEACE MOVEMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 88, Issue 13511, 18 June 1917, Page 5

PEACE MOVEMENTS

GERMANY AND RUSSIA. SWITZERLAND AS INTERMEDIARY. (Reuter's Received June 18, 12.5 a.m. STOCKHOLM, June 17. Facts have come to light showing that the Swiss Government has been acting as intermediary between Germany and Russia promoting the aims of peace. A telegram despatched from Berne on the sth in the cypher of the j Swiss Federal Council to the Swiss Minister at Petrograd, says:—"Herr Hoffmann, member of the Swiss Federal Council, authorises the following com-' munication: 'Germany will undertake no offensive while arrangement with Russia is possible.' I am. convinced, after conversations with an important personage, that Germany aims at a peace with Russia honourable to both, with intimate economic and commercial relations, financial support to rehabilitate Russia, no interference with internal affairs, Prussian entente cordiale regarding Poland, Lithuania and Courland, and the restoration of the occupied provinces, including Austrian territory in the possession of Russia. AMSTERDAM, June 17. It is significant that simultaneously with the publication of Herr Hoffmann's communication a statement appears in the official Norddeutsche Gazette stating that the Russian formula of peace without annexations or indemnities would be acceptable to Germany. GERMAN SOCIALISTS' RESOLUTION. IN ACCOBD WITH RUSSIAN ACTION. (Australian and N.Z. Gable Assn.) Received June 17, 5.5 p.m. STOCKHOLM, June 15. The German Majority Socialists have issued an official statement adhering to the Russian Workers' Council scheme of peace without annexation or indemnity. They say that they are opposed to the violent seizure of territories, and Claim the restoration of the snatched colonies. As a matter of course the extortion of indemnities must be rejected, also the reconstruction of the devastated territories. They agree on political restoration and that nations should have the right to decide their own independence. Belgium and Serbia should be restored, and Poland and Finland should be liberated. Ireland, Egypt, Tripoli, India, and countries in a similar position should be freed from foreign oppression. Regarding AlsaceLorraine, they assert that it belongs to Germany politically and ethnographically, and its restoration to France must be rejected. LONGING FOR PEACE. AMSTERDAM, June 16. During the Budget debate in the Austrian Reichsrath, Socialists demanded that the Government should proclaim its desire for peace on the basis of no annexations and no indemnities, HUNGARIAN POLITICS. ' A CABINET FORMED. J • £MSTEfcT)AM, June 17. Count Esterhazy~ Jias formed ** a Cabinet representing all parties except