Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-12-29
Release of Occupied TerritOr-
les, ReeStabIiShment of Al
SaCe-Lorraine, Demanded
by Minister PiChon,
SUSPECT NEGOTIATIONS
AS SLY TRADE MOVE
France Declares POintedIy
Against Accepting Before
War Status as Basis for
Peace Discussion.
~ s,es,ss JOURNAL SPECIAL Ls.szo " re-,

~ aoeSiho JOURNAL SPECIAL LsAsIo " rEI
Paris Thursday Dec. 27.-France
will not accept a peace based on con-
dItions before the war, Foreign Min
lister Pichon declared in replying in
the chamber of deputies today to the
peace terms of the central powers out
lined to Russia. He asserted that
Germany was trying to involve France
i'll the negotiations with the Bolshe-
wiki but that the war would go on
whether or not Russia made separ-
ate peace.
The foreign minister said Germany
was seeking to protract the negotia'
tons with the Russians, re-establish-
ing commercial relations in the mean
time, believing that in this way the
Bolsheviki might be checkmated later
Referring to the terms which the
central powers offered to the Rus
sians as published today, he said:
Germany is trying to involve us
in her MaXimalist negotiations. After
suffering as we have, we cannot ac-
cept peace based on the status quo.
BY agreement with our allies we are
ready to discuss direct propositions
regarding peace, but this is indirect.
Russia Has Failed.
Russia can treat for separate
peace with our enemies or not. In
either case the war for us will con-
tinue. An ally has failed us, an ally
who in preceding years carried off
great victories. 1t is a great success
for oar eneny but ano .ner aiiy has
come; from the other end of the world
democracy has risen against Ger
many's appetite for conquest.
AT the conference in Paris a pro-
gram was drawn up and in conse.
quence unity of action on the allies
will make itself felt, even to Mace
donia. Germany and her allies have
undertaken the impossible task of
conquering the world.
To France Goes Credit,
"1n this war France will have
played a great role, for, as Roosevelt
has said, she will have saved human
ity."
M. Pichon declared that the secret
treaties published by the Bolsheviki
have not compromised France. He
said the German diplomats who were
pretending to show indignation were
the very men who sought to negotiate
secret treaty with the old regime in
Russia; who attempted to draw Mex
leo into war against the United
States and organized plots in Argen-
tine. After referring to the German
declaration that Alsace and Lorraine
would never be surrendered, NJ. Pi-
chon said:
Held World Question.
The question of Alsace- Lorraine
does not affect France alone. 1t is
a world question. 1t is not a terrific.
rial problem, but a moral problem
On its solution depends whether o.,
not the world shall have dura BILE
peace"
The statement was greeted with ap-
plause.
The occupation of Jerusalem, M.
Plchon said, was victory for the civ
lilzed world. He added that the city
would be given an international
status.
Referring to the war aims of
first was to conquer.
Assure World Peace.
But why?" he went on: ITO as
sure a world peace of justice and fra
ternity. We desire the liberation of
our occupied territories, just repara =
ton for damages sustained and a
guarantee of durable peace by inter-
national agreements.
Repeat that last phrase" Pierre
Renaudel interjected.
M. Pichon repeated it, adding:
The reference is to society of
nations"
You should have said So" M. Re-
naudel rejoined.
we are in perfect agreement with
PRESIDENT Wilson on that point" NJ.
Pichon said.
Aim Not to Crush Germany.
lie then quoted President wilson's
words that the immediate task was
to win the war, adding:
1T never has been the intention of
President Wilson or the allies to do
stroy the German people,"
Referring to the Russian situation,
M, Pichon said:
All the allies through their rep
resentatives made the declaration at
Petrograd that on the day when a
regularly constituted government
founded on the national will existed
in Russia We would be ready to ex-
anime with it our war aims and the
conditions of just and durable peace.
The allies representatives are all un-
able to recognize government which
made an armistice without consulting
it's allies, opened negotiations for an
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