A MEMORIAL WHICH WAS SUPPRESSED

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2550, 26 August 1915, Page 5

A MEMORIAL WHICH WAS SUPPRESSED

GERMANS MUST NOT ASPIRE TO ANNEXATION , Berns, August 24. • The Socialist newspaper "Volkrecht" publishes a memorial which . Germany suppressed, and which was presented to tho Reichstag by' the newly-founded "Society Ncuves Vaterland."' Tho memorial savs: — "It is madness to imagine that a victorious' Germany could render Britain and Russia powerless for any considerable period. Even supposing—which is absurd—that Britain lost Egypt, India,South Africa, and Gibraltar, and that Russia lost Finland, the Baltic Provinces. the Ukraine, and Poland, then Britain, with her remaining colonies, such as Australia" and Canada, wpuld bo united more closely, with, the certainty of new' strength by conscription, while Russia with her illimitable territories and population would very soon bp Teady and capable to fisht again. Annexation. instead of dividing the foe after the war, would only unite them more closclv. "Britain certainly would never accept a peace involving annexation, unless she were completely overthrown, and no serious person in Germany believes that Britain can.bs completely crushed. Annexation in the East would only benefit aerarians in the West, and only increase the dividends of the great industrial organisations. "Tho ereat mass of tho people are suffering: under intolerable war sacrifices, and they demand a peace which will not bring advantages to small interested circles at the cost of 'the whole nation."