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Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13888, 14 October 1918, Page 4

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THE PEACE NOTE

THE ALLIES' DECISION. COMMON ACTION DECIDED ON. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) ' Received October 14, 8.45 a.m. LONDON, October 13. The Daily Express says that the Entente Governments have discussed the German peace overtures, and have decided on a common line of action. A TEST OF SINCERITY. PUNISHMENT OF SEA MURDERERS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn ) Received October 14, 8.45 a.m. LONDON, October 12. Sir Edward Carson, writing in the Morning Post, says that the Government should, before further German Notes are accepted, insist on the perpetrators of the crime being delivered and brought to justice. This would be the best test of Germany's bona fides in seeking an amitotice. GERMAN PRESS VIEWS. I (Reuter's Telegrams.) "» Received October 14, 8.45 am ' AMSTERDAM. Oct. 12. The Fremdenblatl says that the Government and Reichstag have unrestrictedly accepted Mr Wilson's entire programme as a basis for peace, and the aim of further deliberations is to reaehr a compromise upon the practical details. It declares that the evacuations demand is not impossible if it is guaranteed that Belgium will not again become a theatre of war. Germany believes that peace is dawning, but declares that Germany's possessions must be guaranteed to it. The Vorwaerts regards the prospects *f peace as favourable, but warns against impatient expectations. The Frankfurter Zeitung inquires if it is demanded that the evacuations should include the Eastern occupied territories, and alleges that Poland has requested a continuance of occupation and doubtless the Baltic provinces would do the same. GERMAN HEARTS UNCHANGED. BRUTES THEN AND BRUTES NOW, (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received October 14, 9.15 a.m. LONDON, October 13. Mr A. J. Balfour, Secretary of Stale for Foreign Affairs, at a luncheon to the American press delagetos, in referring to the sinking of the Leinster, said the Germans had professed to have chanphd their constitution, but apparently they had not changed their hearts. They were brutes when thev commenced the war, and still remained brutes. The Leinster carried no military stores and served no'military purpose, and her torpedoing was' pure barbarism, pure frightfulness deliberately enacted in broad davlighi. One would have thought the Germans would shrink from repeating a crime which brought America into the war, particularly at a moment when America, perhaps more than any other belligerent, was deciding Germany's fate. It was incredible to think of this and other even more destructive and cowardlv crimes against helpless civilians and prisoners who did not commend themselves to the German people. FEARS OF A WRONG PEACE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn ) Received October 14, 9.15 a.m. LONDON, October 13.

Sip Auckland Geddes, Minister nt National Service, says that Germany is tryin.tr to find a way of "avoiding defeat. His great fear is that we will be bluffed into a wron.n- peace, and the request for an armistice is part of that scheme. There is no evidence that Germany is tottering. She is preparing her srreatest submarine campaign. Germany's aim is to keep what she can in order to prepare for world domination.

GERMAN PROTESTATIONS QUESTIONED. 'Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received October 14, 9.15 a.m. LONDON, October 13. Frequent comment in London on the Leinster case is that if Germany has really ended militarism, as Herr Erzberger claims, the new civilian power in Germany must bear the blame of the atrocities. It means either that Germany's new constitutionalism is a sham or is equally as odious as militarism as far as submarining is concerned. THE REFORMED GERMANY. ' (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.i Received October 14., 9.15 a.m. LONDON. October 13. Newspapers remark that the so-called "reformed Germany" must be judged by deeds, not professions. They revive, the Kaiser's recent message to the nation saying, saying, "We will so wasre war that when it is over we will be able to recall every act with a clear conscience." THE GERMAN REPLY. AN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. (Admiralty per Wireless Press.) Received October 14. 9.15 a.m. LONDON, October 12. German official: The German Government has replied to President Wilson to the effect that the German Government accepted the terms laid down by President Wilson in his address of January Blh and his subsequent addresses for the foundation of a permanent peace on justice. Consequently its object in entering into discussions would he only to agree upon the practical details for the application of these terms. The German Government believes thai the Governments of the Powers associated with the United States would also adopt the position laid down by President Wilson in his address. Germany is in accord with the Austro-Hungarian Governments for the purpose of bringing about an armistice, and declares itself ready to comply with the President's propositions in regard to evacuation. She suggests that the Presidenl may convene a meeting of a mixed Commission to make the necessary arrangements concerning evacuation. The present German Government, which has undertaken tin; responsibility of this step towards peace, has been formed by conferences and is in agreement with the ureal majority of the Reichstag. The Chancellor, supported in all his actions by the will of (his majority, speaks in the name of (he Oer.uan Government and 'l''"'' I ''- T 'ie Note is siffn.'d hv Dr Solf.

THE SUBMARINE WEAPON. must bk sri(i!KM)i:iii:i» Australian and X.Z. i:\de \ssn ' Heeeivd October 14. JJ.1,1 a.m. LONDON, net,,her 1?. Mr Pollen, the naval writer. poinN out that while ('resident Wilson requires tl vaeualion ~f occupied territory as a preliminary to the discuss-on of an armistice, no stipulation is made in regard |<> the very weapon which brought America into the war. President Wilson should demand tin- surrender of submarines as a further preliminary.