15 DECEMBER 1917, Page 2

In the House of Commons on Tuesday Mr. Balfour stated

that Germany had informed the British Government last September, through a neutral source, that she world be glad to make a com- munication relative to peace. The Government replied that they would receive any communication and discuss it with their Allies, who were at once told of the message and the reply. The Russian diplomatic telegram conveying the news to Petrograd has been published by the Anarchista. Nothing more has been heard of the German communication. The message concerning it was merely sent in the hope of causing dissensions among the Allies. A similar message was " whispered " to France in October, and probably Italy has been sounded since the recent reverse. The Germans, who would never scruple to break a treaty or desert an ally, judge other nations by themselves.