SPEECH BY GERMAN PREMIER

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 22 May 1919, Page 5

SPEECH BY GERMAN PREMIER

MUST KEEP THE NATION ALIVE

LONDON, May 19. According to .Berlin advtces, Herr Scheidemann, speaking at a meeting of the National Assembly in Berlin to discuss the peace terms, dramatically declared*: "This is the turning point in the life of the German people. We must stand together. We have no duty other than to keep the nation alive. Germany pursues no nationalistic dreams. There is no question of prestige or thirst for power. Life—bare life—is what we must save for Germany to-day when everyone feels the throttling hand at his throat."

Herr Scheidemann spoke of German disappointment at President Wilson's attitude, and complained at great length of the peace conditions, which he declaimed were such that no honest man could sign them, as 'they meant the strangling of Germany. He declared that the Vienna "Government was standing with the Germans in paving the way to negotiations, not only for themselves, but for the society of nations.

Herr Scheidemann concluded: "The dignity of humanity is placed in our hands. Preserve it. We shall make more counter proposals to the treaty, .which the Government views as unacceptable. The voice of Italy, Britain and France are now heard protesting." The whole speech was characterised by labored rhetoric, and was obviously addressed t» the gallery. It was punctuated throughout with applause, and when the President declared the treaty unacceptable, the House rose to its feet and confirmed: the Words by tremendous applause, in which the galleries participated.