PEACE MOVES

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13889, 15 October 1918, Page 6

PEACE MOVES

WHY AN ARMISTICE WAS SOUGHT. .TO SAVE THE CROWN PRINCE'S ARMY. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, October 13. Lord Denbigh, in a speecb in London, said the Crown Prince's army being in difficulties at Laon, the Germans asked for an armistice to enable them to get beyond the frontie*. bring up arms, and reorganise] They would then say they had misunderstood the fourteen points, and when they bad iested we would have the whobJ job tc do over again. SAFEGUARING AN ARMISTICE. EVERY PRECAUTION NECESSARY. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, October 13. When Germany's acceptance of President Wilson's terms was announced in the London theatres and music halls on Saturday night, the audiences rase and sang the National Anthem with the greatest enthusiasm. Sir J. Simon, late Secretary of State for Home Affairs, in a speech at WaltHaM&stow in the afternoon, said he saw- no change in the heart of Germany, and added: "If the controllers of her destinies are sincerely desirous for a real peace let them forthwith abandon their submarine warfare." The consensus of the earliest news T papers' opinion is that President Wilson Will not recommend the Allies to grant Germany an armistice unless accompanied by a solid guarntee, ovyr aid above the evacuation of the invaded territory, such guarantees to include, according to some writers, the occupation by the Anglo-French or the Americans, of the fortress of Metz and the bridgeheads of the Rhine. It is taken for granted that Marshal Foch will lay this down as a military condition. Several newspapers insistently demand the surrender of German submarines before any suspension of hostilities is granted. The Observer emphasises the danger of Germany attempting to use President Wilson for the purpose of baffling Marshal Foch. Any armistice must be accompanied by guarantees making it impossible for the enemy to renew the struggle. The Sunday Times says that no surrender could be more complete or sudden, hence we must hold it suspect. If the suggestion for a mixed commission is not a proposal for a peace conference, and consequent

bargaining, doubtless the Germans fervently trust that it may develop into one. We must hope that President Wilson will make it a clear understanding that any omission in the fourteen points of the Allies' demands must be rigorously enforced, including the punishment of the criminals inspiring and organising havoc and atrecities on land, and also naval and ' mercantile reparation for flagrant violation of the laws of marine warfare. . QERMAN ACTIONS SUSPICIOUS. . ' DEMOCRACY IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING. DIPOMATIC CAMOUFLAGE. LONDON, October 13. The language of the German reply Is intended to suggest that the democratisation of the Government is complete, but authoritative quarters regard Dr. Solf's professions to speak in the name of the German people with suspicion. They point out that it is unlikely that the Kaiser, the Court and. the militarists have given up power without a struggle. They probably hope to deceive America by keeping in the background. A free Reichstag, elected by universal suffrage, with power to appoint their own Ministers, would alone be able to speak in the name of the German people. ALLIES IN CONSULTATION. TO SECURE AT CLEARER STATEMENT. LONDON, October 13. The Anglo-French consultation with President Wilson will begin to-day, with a view of obtaining a clearer statement and ample guarantees. (Reuter's Telegrams.) LONDON, Otcober 13.

Mr Balfour and Mr Bonar Law are conferring with Mr Lloyd George today on the German reply.

AMBIGUITY OF GERMAN REPLY. LONDON, October 13. The British Government has received the German reply; its ambiguity will probably necessitate extensive communicatiions betjveen the Allies. AN AMERIOAN WARNING. UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER NOT TO BE EXPECTED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 13. Official circles warn the public against believing that Germany is about to surrender unconditionally. GENERAL PAU'S VIEWB. SYDNEY, October 14. General Pau, said any feeling th.?t peace was imminent was unjustified. "We must not," he said, "fall into any German traps. The only real solution was to get tbeVicrmans on the other side of the Rhine." Mr Pearcc described the offer as the acceptance by the enemy of thti inevitable, and that could only be regarded only with caution, and as an indication of the trend of events. AUSTRALIAN PRESS OPINIONS. MELBOURNE, October 14. The morning papers accept the offer as an admission that Germany is militarily beaten, but urge the n.'cd of the strictest caution and most binding guarantees before considering any peace preliminaries. They express grave doubt about accepting the word of any German statesman. The Herald says that no Allied country can trust the Germans to give back the annexed territories in France or make good the damage in Belgium and France if their army is allowed to return home without further molestation, and take its aim with it. The Telegraph declares that Germany has only itself and its past actions to blame of President Wilson should reply that the acceptance of his terms by the German Government, even with the endorsement of the Reichstag, cannot be deemed sufficient, because the German Government has exhibited bad faith on previous occasions, and therefore cannot be now trusted.