The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-06-16
Wants Return Of Colonies, No
Indemnity for Belgium, No
Armed Merchantmen and
Other Things.
SOCIALISTS ANNOUNCE
international Arbitration After the
War Ends and Disarmament
Except for Defensive
Measures.
[By Arthur e. Mann, United Press
Stan Correspondent

1
Stan Correspondent
STOCKHOLM, June 16.-What may
be considered to approximate the Ger
man governments peace terms, was
outlined here today when the German
majority socialists gave out their pro
gram for peace. The striking points
Of the plan were:
No indemnity for Belgium-because
''it would be. difficult to determine
which belligerents were responsible
for damages on the various fronts and
one-sided liability would merely mask
an indemnity"
I Return Of the German colonies
under the socialist doctrine of INC
annexations.' ,
Retention by Germany OF Alsace
Lorraine because they are nine
tenths German"
The German socialists outline like
wise insists on complete political and
military independence OF all nations
Belgium fs to agree with her Austrian
Comrades" regarding the future OF
Serbia and other Balkan nations.
Poland's and Finland's future Is
left to the determination of these
provinces themselves, II independence
is impossible there. certainly they
shall be autonomous.
To Greece, Ireland, Tripoli, Nor.
rocco, Korea, Thibet, the German so.
cialists extended greatest sympathy
and socialists in those principalities
were urged to work for independence.
OF Alsace-Lorraine, the German
statement declared:
These are nine-tenths German.
They originally belonged to Germany
and then to France. If they are re-
turned to France now it would be an
nexation."
After return of peace, the Germans
would have International arbitration
and disarmament, except for defensive
measures, and for short enlistment
for police army.
There should be an international
decision ION all war provoking dis
putes.
Listing their suggestions for future
international laws. the German So
cialists would require:
No expectation Of munitions by neu-
trails.
No prizes to be taken at sea-
No merchantmen to be armed.
All canals, straits, and sea routes
to be "internationalized."
Food and clothing not to be held
contraband. No censorship Of letters
from belligerents and neutrals.
No trade war.
Full freedom Of the seas.
No protective tariffs.
No secret diplomacy
Giving out their outline, the Ger
man socialists urged that the general
socialist conference declare it was not
willing to discuss the responsibility
for the present war, unless the en-
tente delegates insisted on this.
1.-THE German majority socialists
program, as outlined above, differs
somewhat from terms for peace which
have generally-and semi cially
been credited to the German govern
ment Germany has usually indicated
its willingness to indemnify Belgium
The German majority socialists are
headed by Philip Scheidemann and
are ardent supporters Of the kaiser's
They are the men at
whom President Wilson struck his
flag day speech when he remarked
that German autocrats are using"
liberals. The German militarists
were careful not to grant passports to
the Stockholm conference to German
socialists Of the Liebknecht. Lede-
bour, Hasse types because these radi-
cal socialists are anti-autocrats.l