Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 May 1918 — BALFOUR SAYS BRITISH DOOR OPEN TO PEACE [ARTICLE]

BALFOUR SAYS BRITISH DOOR OPEN TO PEACE

Secretary Asserts England Will Listen to Straightforward Proposals. OFFER SENT FROM VIENNA Declares Emperor Charles Made Peace Move to Both France and England —No Secrets From Wilson— Germany's Newest Terms Learned. London, May 17. —Great Britain 18 prepared to consider proposals from the enemy, provided they are put forward by accredited persons in a straightforward manner. Foreign Secretary Balfour declared in the house of commons. “If any representative of any belligerent country desires seriously to lay before us any proposals,” he said, “we are ready to listen to them.” The British government was desirous of an honorable termination of the war, he added, but the peace moves of the central powers heretofore had not been In the interests of fair and honorable peace. Mr. Balfour discussed at length the peace pleas which Emperor Charles of Austria wrote to his brother-in-law. Prince Sixtus of Bourbon, and which were submitted to the French and British governments. The subject was brought up by the pacifists and advocates of peace by negotiation. “Extended Alsace Not an Issue.** Mr. Balfour said the conversations which Gaston Doumerglue, formerly French premier and foreign minister, had with the Russian emporer in 1916 regarding a bigger Alsace-Lorraine which France would demand, were not known to Great Britain until very much later. They had no international bearing, he said, and didn’t pledge Great Britain. The British government never gave the least encouragement to any such notion. “German Offers Insincere." The foreign minister also said the pourparlers over the Austrian emperor’s letter were not interfered with by the demand of France for an extension of territory beyond her boundaries of 1870. There was no evidence now or at any time, he added, that- German government circles contemplated the possibility of what “we should regard as a reasonable peace—a peace which would secure the freedom of the world and freedom for those who are in danger of German domination." No Secret From Wilson. He held no secrets from President Wilson, Mr. Balfour said. Every thought he had on the war or the diplomacy connected with the war was as open to President Wilson as other human being. He did not think it possible for Great Britain and the United States to carry on the great work in which they were engaged or to deal with the complicated problems of today without complete confidence, and so far as he was concerned, complete confidence would always be given. Germany’s Newest Terms. With the French Army in France, May 17. —Germany’s conditions of peace are clearly stated in a document found in a German trench that was recently recaptured by entente allied troops. A resume of the principal conditions, as given in an official translation, reads:

“After the enormous sacrifice we have made of our blood and property we exact as a necessary minimum to the preservation and development of Germany the following: “Belgium, especially the Flanders coast with Antwerp, is to remain under German military, economic, and political dependence. “Liberty of the seas shall be properly established for all nations, the central powers being allowed a commercial fleet totaling 17.800,000 tons, while that of the allies should amount to 10,900,000 tons. -

Want French Mines: “Our colonies shall be returned without augmentation. “We are to have more numerous and stronger naval stations? “The I.ongwy and Briey mine fields which furnished France its weapons for attack, shall become German. “Readjustments of the frontiers, particularly in the Vosges, are to be fixed according to the military situation and the appreciation of the commandant. Onr frontiers must be such that their defense is made easier. Seek Baltic Provinces. “The former German Baltic provinces shall be incorporated, their rich soil furnishing new cereal fields for German peasant emigrants, thus protecting the empire against the dangers of famine. “Courland, Lithuania. Livonia and Esthonia are to be colonized. “One million eight hundred thousand tons of Roumanian petrol will be at the disposal of Germany. ‘tThose nations who attacked peaceful Germany must pay all war charges in raw material, ships, ready money, and territorial concessions, leaving Germany with only $5,000,000,000 national debt” __