GERMAN CHANCELLOR ON THE PEACE ISSUE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3086, 17 May 1917, Page 5

GERMAN CHANCELLOR ON THE PEACE ISSUE

SPEECH IN THE REICHSTAG CRAFTY HINT TO RUSSIAN NATION-WRECKERS (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright). : ■ • (Res. May 16. 8.10 p.m.) Amsterdam, May 16. Herr Roesicke, the Conservative Leader in the Reichstag, opened the debate on Germany's war aims' by inquiring as to the Government's attitudte to the Socialist leaders in regard to their recent decision. Herr Scheidemann, on behalf of the Socialists, inquired whether Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg was ready ,to endorse tho Russian Provisional Government's formula of peace without annexation. Herr yon Bethmai n-Hollweg, in the course of his reply, said that ho had 1 consistently clung to the peace offer ho had mado on December 12. Recent S suggestions concerning differences of opinion amongst the Central Powers.helonged to the realm of imagination. Hβ had always looked favourably upon any prospect of a speedy and favourable termination of the war, but if, as now, the general situation imposed silence, he would keep silent. , He would not swerve from that attitude, whatever pressure was brought to bear. Their enemies to-day evinced no abdication of their oxtravagant aims of conquest and economic annihilation. "Does anybody expect to induce such enemies to peace by a programme of renunciation or abstention ? Shall I simply grant them a license to continue the war indefinitely without any risk or losses to themselves? Shall I tell thorn that whatever happens: 'We, nixler all circumstances, will renounce our war aims, whilst you, who are making the attempt on our existence, are to be free to try conclusions without risk?' Shall I compromise the Empire T)y endorsing In every , respect a one-sided programme which relinquishes our successes?, I decline such a policy, which would imply the meanest ingratitude for tho heroic achievements of our people on the battlefields and at home. It would permanently lower the standard of life of the entire nation, and sacrifice the country's future." Policy of Conquest. The Chancellor equally declined to outline his policy of conquest. "Germany," ho said, "did not enter the war to make a conquest, but to defendher existence." He did not doubt that an agreement could be reached with which would be satisfactory to both parties. Germany would not "make demands incompatible with the liberty and will of the nations. He affirmed his contention that Germany had no difference with the Allies regarding the peace question. He perfectly understood the passionate interest which was being taken in the German aims, but the only guiding line for him was an early and satisfactory conclusion to the war. Hβ could say nothing beyond that. Ho denounced the 'Socialist talk of revolution. The nation was firmly arrayed around the Kaiser, whom it trusted, and who trusted it;. He referred to the "unparalleled battles" of the past month. "Even today," he wont on, "the British and the French show no readiness for peace." The most recent utterances from London declared that the war aims announced by the Allies for two years past had not been altered. He rejected the idea of arrivine at a peace Uy announcing a. willingness to renounce successes, and equally declined to set forth a programme of conquest. Tho latter would help as little as the former to win a victory and end the v.'ar. "Bv outlining our wo would be only playing 'the game of foreign nilinn: Powers, and thus facilitate their task." Regarding Russia, he'said: "She would appear to decline all' plans for conquest by violence. Whether Russia will and can influonce , tho Allies in the snme direction I am at present unable to foresee." Ho did not doubt that England had assisted her other Allies in endeavouring by all means to bring Russia, further under the yoke of Armageddon and fmstreto her longing for a speedy establishment of tho world's poac<>. "Our military position is as Rood, perhaps, as ever it has been sinco thn beginning of thi? war. Our enemies in the West, in spite of rr.osi gigantic losses, aro unable to piercfi our front. Our submarines are working with incrpasing success. Neutrals will recognise this: That as far as duty U> Germain- permits, wp will respect new. trals' interests. Time is working f«r us. \Yn ar« entitled to believe m flip approaching successful termination of the wnr. Tlmn will come thr•'momW. to negotiate concerning onr war a'lisa, regnrdinc which lam in full accord with the supreme army command. Tlion will -w.o win a peace giving us 'ibprtv ' to reconstruct by tho powerful use of our forces all that the war has destroyed, so that, from so much blood and so many sacrifices, tho realm and tho people may emerge strong and independent, never threatened by enemies, and a rvotecting tower to peace and industry." /' The German peace terms, as rnminunicated to the German Embassy at Washington on December 12 included: ' , I TUo complete restoration of Belgium. The evacuation of Northern France. , The retention of the bulk of Serbia by Austria. The Restoration to Bulgaria of territory lost in tlie second Balkan War. Restoration to 'Austria of territory oaptured by Italy. . Turkey's retention of Constantinople. ■' ( The establishment, of- the kingdoms of Poland and 'Lithuania. The return of Germany's lost colonies. / The readjustment of the international boundaries of tho Balkans was stated to ho so complicated that it would mean at least a partial restoration of Serbia and Rumania. Mr. Lloyd George's reply was: "Complete restitution, full reparation, effectual guarantees. TURKEY TRYING A "PEACE FEELER" (Roc. May 10, 5.5 p.m.) mi i,ti i,, • ~, Rome, May 15. ihe newspaper "Idea Nazionale , . , s f a t es that Turkev, through a neutral Power, is proposing peace on tho l-?sis of opwiing the Dardanelles to Russian navigation, and. is also prepared concjiiatorily to examine the question of Armenia and make concessions to the principle of the recognition of nationalities.—Reutcr. ■ \