The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1918-05-16
REAL PEACE OFFER
WOULD Be HEARD,
DECLARES BALFOUR
Calls All Proposals Bogus, and
Declares There Are No
Secrets from u. s,

LONDON. May l6.-Grcat Britain -
ureparcd to consider proposals from
tho enemy. provided they are put for
ward by accredited persons In q
strairhtrarward manner Foreign Sec
retary Balfour declared to-day In the
House OF Cmmons.
"If any representative OF any bel
ligerent country desires seriously 10
lay before US any proposals" he said'
I've arc ready 20 listen 20 them
Tho British Government was de-
sirous OF an honorable termination OF
the war. he added, but tho peace
moves OF the Central Powers hereto
fore had not been in the interests Of
fair and honorable peace.
Mr.. Balfour was asked whether Prihce
Slxtus OF Bourbon, TO whom Emperor
Charles OF Austria addressed the let-
f,rs last year in which pence was
offered 10 France. paid two visits TO
England in connection with the
peace proposals and whether nc was
in communication on this suDleo'
with Premier Lloyd George.
Tho question was brought up by
Pobort Outhwaitc. Liberal member
OF the House Of Commons Tor nan
,oy. Mr.. Balfour replied that inc
subject was not one which could be
dealt with by question and answer
The whole topic Of Emperor
Charles's PROPOSALS was discussed TO-
day in the House OF Commons on the
initiative of the pnclnsts and adVo-
Gates OF peace by negotiation
In response to questions Mr.. hai-
fopr said that Emperor Charles
wrote a letter to q relative 'Prinee
s,xtus is a brother-in-law ot the
Emperor). and that 1t was conveyed
by this relative TO the President ana
Premier OF France under the seal OF
the strlc;cst Hccrccy.
No permission was given to com
municato the letter 70 any one eN-
cent the Sovereign and Premier OF
this country. (This answers the
question which has been raised as
TO wnv the Emperors proposals
were not communicated to President
wilsonD
Mr.. Balfour said he had no secrets
from President Wilson Every thought
he had on the war or In regard q
questions Of diplomacy connected witt
the war was open to the President
There was no one moro deSirou'
than the British Government, he con
tinucd. that the war should be brought
20 an honorable termination. II any
method could be shown the Govern
ment whereby that would he accom-
plished. Il would. OF course, be &c
cepted. He added. however, that n;
effort at conversations which ha,
been made by the Central Powers hal
ever been made in the interests o
fair and honorable peace. To the
contrary. they had been put forwarI
in order 70 divide the Allies.
Referring to the statement made bS
Walter Runciman, formerly President
. Of the Board Of Trade, that France
had asked FOR bigger Alsace-Lor
raine than that OF 1870 Mr.. Balfou
said there was no question OF thii
bigger Alsace- Lorraine being the wa
aim OF the Allies
Mr.. Bafour said the conversation
which Castor Doumerglue, formerl
French Premier and Foreign Min
lister. had with the Russian Empero
in 1916 regarding a bigger Alsace
Lorraine which France would de
mand were not known TO Great Brit
ain until very much later. They ha
no international bearing, he said, an
did not pledge Great Britain. AN
tho British Government never CAV
the least encouragement to any sue
notion.
Former Premier Asquith, who fol
lowed Mr. Balfour, said that while Il
his judgment there had not been an
could not be any contraction, 80 thor
should not be any expansion OF IN
clear aims and purposes for whic
Great Britain had entered and wa
prosecuting the war and desiring {
bring II 10 successful issue