GERMANY’S ASPIRATIONS

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4906, 27 June 1918, Page 5

GERMANY’S ASPIRATIONS

DELICATE RELATIONS WITH HER ALLIES. THE PROBLEM OF RUSSIA. CHANCELLOR’S CUARDED SPEECH. Australian and N.Z. Gable Association (Received June 26, 7.30 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, June 26. Baron Kuhlmaiin, in the Reichstag, eulogised the Turkish Government and; Enver Pasha, who had' covered themselves with glory. He said questions regarding Dobrudja, and the line of Maritza and tile Caucasus remained to bo settled, but there was no real difference of opinion between Turkey and Germany. A conference of the Central Powers with representatives of the people of the Caucases woulcl meet at Constantinople.

Referring to Russia, he said the colossal ferment could not be considered settled, so lie advised that members’ comments be guarded. The chief task of the future was the settlement of the Polish question as concerns relations between Germany and Austro-Hungary. He said further victories by the German arms might be expected in the summer and autumn, but he would not venture to prophesy the duration of 1 the war. Nobody believed that Germany strived after world domination or even domination of Europe. “What we desire,” he said 1 , “is that within the frontiers which history has drawn for us we can live freely, strongly, and undisturbedly•; that we shall have overseas possessions which correspond with our greatness and our wealth arid capacity of organisation; that we shall have possibility and liberty to carry on commerce and traffic to all parts of the world. This is our dim realisation, which is of absolute necessity for tlie life of Germany.” He hoped Germany’s enemies would realise that it was a dream that they could fight successfully against the counter-measures which were 'at Germany’s disposal. . Concluding, he said: “Moreover, we hope our enemies will find a way in due course to approach us with an offer of peace which corresponds with the situations and necessities of German life.”

Baron Kuhlmann incidentally informed the Reichstag that the An-glo-German War Prisoners’ Committee at the Hague had decided not to deport Germans from China.