PEACE PROPOSALS

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13889, 15 October 1918, Page 5

PEACE PROPOSALS

GERMANY'S REPLY RECEIVED. MAY BE A STEP TOWARDS PEACE THE NOTE'S CREDENTIALS DOUBTED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received October 15, 12.10 a.m. NEW YOKE, OctoW 13. President Wilson received the first intimation of the German Note while sitting in his box at the Metropolitan Opera House. Whereupon ho engaged in a quiet conversation with Colonel House. When the President arrived he received a tremendous ovation. It was expected that the President would briefly address the audience, but he did not sneaky The ne\vspai>ers issued special early editions. Washington correspondent's emphasised that America will insist on the withdrawal of German forces from the Allied territory before opening any negotiations whatever. WASHINGTON, October 13. Senator Hiteheock, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, in an .interview, said that the German reply was encouraging. ''l believe," he added, "this is a step towards peace, but the offer cannot l>e accepted without important modifications. We must have military guarantees before agreeing to an armistice, and the Kaiser must place full and permanent power for the making of peace or war in the hands of the people. The power of the Reichstag must also be unfettered." Thorns said: "I believe the Note to he sufficiently definite to require the President to consult with the Allies regarding the next step. Germany must pay indemnities Cor all damage done on land, and by the murderous U boat warfare.' (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received October 15, 12.45 a.m NEW YORK, OctoW 13. The newspapers, commenting on Germany's answer, point out that it is diffieult to determine whether the Note emanates from people or a criminal Government. One newspaper asks "What are the eredentirJs of the voice speaking?" and adds that satisfactory credentials would bo the announcement of the abdication of the Kaiser and the renunehtion of the succession by his discredited dynasty. At present one can see the peace of justice and victory nearer thin human pre. cience could have forseen a few weeks ago. The New York Tribune, commenting, says: "The Imperial German Government has returned the dreaded answer, pretending to accept »hc!!v the President's conditions. Germanv does not offer to surender. Why should she? We haven't demanded it."

WHAT AMERICA DEMANDS. ONLY UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER. SIGNIFICANT OMISSION OF TURKEY. IN GERMANY'S REPLY. Received October 15, 1.20 am WASHINGTON, October 14. Tho text of Germany's reply has lioen perused. Mr McAdoo, Secretary of the Treasury, said that what the American Government demands, based on President Wilson's messages and speeches, is unconditional surrender. Tf the text of the reply is authentic, it means just that. Officials comment on the significant fact that the German reply associates Austro-Hungnry. but omits Turkey. The implication is that unless the message was written in unusual haste Turkey is no longer Germany's ally. BRITAIN OPPOSES ARMISTICE. WITHOUT COMPLETE GUARANTEES. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn ) Received October ir>, 9.35 a.m. WASHINGTON, Oct. 14. When the Gorman reply was received President Wilson immediately called Messrs Lansing and Baker to the White House for a conference. The text of the Note is identical with that received by wireless. It is understood that the British Oovommenl opposes an armistice unless complete guarantees, both military and naval, are given,

THE REPLY UNACCEPTABLE WORTHLESSNESS OF GERMAN PROMISES. xMR ROOSEVELT'S REGRET. AT ENTRY INTO NEGOTIATIONS. WHAT GOOD FAITH REQUIRES. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received October 13, 8.55 a.m. WASHINGTON, Oct. 14. The Swiss Minister has delivered the official text of the German answer to Mr Lansing. Maturer consideration has not influenced the officials favourably towards the Note. It is pointed out that the President is not obliged to accept the proposal, as he had not replied to the previous Note, but merely asked questions in order to get a clearer understanding of the German attitude. Mr Wilson spent the day in company with Golonel House at New York, and returned to Washington in the afternoon, maintaining silence regarding the Note.

Tlio newspapers throughout the country comment variously on the Note, showing a tendency to regard it with suspicion. The New York Evening Telegram says: "The 'confidence man' of Europe offers us a gold brick, but we are not going- to invest." The consensus of opinion in high quarters is that the German reply is unacceptable and is likely to be answered in such terms as will expose Cerman duplicity and the worthlessness of her promises. It is opined that the most stringent terms must be imposed on Cermany before listening to proposals for an armistice. Some Congressmen suggest, that as a guarantee of good faith Germany should give the Allies as hostages Metz, Essen and Heligoland, and also rec'all her submarines and place them under an Allied guard. They urge that if the Reichstag is representative of the people, it should arrest the Kaiser, ttie Grown Prince, Hindenburg and Ludendorff, try them for their crimes, and hand them over to the Allies. NEW YORK, Oct. 14. At Oyster Bay Mr Roosevelt issued a statement, in which he says: "I regret that President Wilson has entered into negotiations. We have announced we will submit to a negotiated peace. I earnestly hope that Mr Wilson will send hack word to Germany stating that we demand unconditional surrender." Mr Roosevelt added: "In any future negotiations by President Wilson, I trust he will remember that good faith demands that we act in concert with the Allies and that the war should be finished by the fighting men. Good faith also demands that there should be no confusion of issue by even a partial return to the bad old days when conversation and note-writing were considered adequate actions after the sinking of the Lusitania and kindred atrocities. I earnestly hope that the Sfenate will emphatically repudiate the so-called 14 points and similar utterances of the President."

CANADIAN PRESS AGREE. ONLY A PEACE MANOEUVRE. TO CAIN MILITARY ADVANTAGE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received October 15, 9.35 a.m. OTTAWA, October li. The Canadian press is united in agreeing that the German peace manoeuvre is only an elaborate plot to Rain a military advantage. The papers regret that President Wilson agreed to any discussion. IS GERMANY SINCERE? (Australian and X.Z. Cable Assn.) Received October 15, 0.35 a.m. WASHINGTON, Oct. li. Mr Tafl, in an interview concerning Germany's answer, said that should the delegates at the Peace Council not agree on a practical interpretation of the President's 1 i principles, Germany and Austria would withdraw. With the prospect of tier lines of defence being strengthened and being in a better condition to continue hostilities, it is asked, "Is Germany sincere?" Assuredly sin 1 has nothing to lose and all to gain by the acceptance of her proposition: as otherwise she faces unconditional surrender.,which our people and the peoples of all the Allied countries demand. Senator Lodge has introduced a resolution in the Senate with the object of breaking off further communications with Germany immediately.