HERTLING'S SPEECH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16775, 15 February 1918, Page 5

HERTLING'S SPEECH.

criticism IN Germany; ENEMY'S DISTRUST . INCREASED. LONDON. Jan. 30. The Times correspondent ..at Amsterdam says that before Baron Hertling delivered his recent speech on peace terms he was visited by Admiral von Tirpitz, who then circularised his faithful followers: "Have no anxiety. The Fatherland Party and the Chancellor are united. Vital necessities will be guaranteed." Everyone knows what von •■ Tirpitz regards . : as vital necessities. Here Scheidemann says that the circular caused great" emotion'in"Germany, and mors still in Austria. Pan-German newspapers are adopting a more critical tone toward Austria, saying ''Let us get free from Austria." Herr Scheidemann, the Socialist leader, speaking in the Reichstag, bitterly assailed baron hertling. He said that the promises had failed miserably. If America had not entered the war the Russian revolution 'would have brought general peace. -The submarines were harming England colossally, but had brought about American intervention, and though Germany would never say We are beaten," it was impossible for any sane man to imagine the day when Great Britain, "Fiance/-' and America would admit that they " were beaten. Baron Hertling only, temporised and threatened, though he knew- that' even the capture. of Calais and Paris would not bring peace, because England: and America >tiU remained. Herr Scheidemann further declared that the Kaiser .had been openly insulted in the streets of Vienna, but even during the Austrian strikes "no cry was raised against the Emperor Charles, who desired peace. The Pan-German war-mongers would cost Germany her alliance with Austria, which was Germany's last friend. Alsace and Belgium.. Dr. Wilson should be-told : that Alsace must remain German, but -that -Belgium would be honourably and; completely reinstated. He concluded, "Remember, thefeeling amongst the populace is most serious. There will be a catastrophe if the Russian negotiations break up and western hopes are disappointed." The Times correspondent at Amsterdam savs that German democrats, though tightly bound by the censorship, are finding means to express their indignation with Hertling's speech. Vorwarts says: " Hertling has increased the enemy's distrust. We are surfeited with such ambiguous masterpieces which trifle with Germany's desire for peace." The. Leipziger Volkszeitung writes:—"On August 4, 1914, Bethmann-Hollweg solemnly promised to repair the wrong done to Belgium. The German rejects that- promise? No doubt the Government is unwilling to reinstate Belgium's political independence, requiring "conquests in the west, as in the east,: under of hypocrisy." Other newspapers complain of the absence of a clearrdeclaration concerning Belgium, wbicVwoM-havV removed the obstacle to a belief in the sincerity of Germany's peace effort^;'.;,

. The Deutsche Zeitung,. an annexationist paper, states that the King" of Bavaria has intervened to prevent the misleading of the Kaiser, and that other Princes must support him in telling the Kaiser bluntly whither the pursuit of Hertling's policy will lead him and the German,.;., people. Vorwarts reports that a- sensational' discussion is proceeding in the German press as to whether Czernin's- invitation to President Wilson represents .Austria's abandonment of the Central Alliance. All the papers, however, assert that. the German authorities read and -' Approved Czernin's speech before its delivery.. ■ Count Reventlow- declares that the' offer to negotiate separately with. America endangers Germany's .life interests.

4 .-,\;.Campaign or Hypocrisy.- ..__ ' The Daily; Mail's correspondent at Berne says that Czerniii is continuing the terrible comedy of hypocrisy which began in 1914. Aware that the Austrian masses madly want peace, but that, Amftria; "'is; at permany's mercy, he -is obliged ttf. carry.,or» the conspiracy and play ./Germany's! game. Reuters correspondent .at 'Amsterdam states that the- Norddeutsche' Zeituirg— published in Berlin—rebukes J the German press for .. lack of political prudence in critically contrasting Baron von Hertling's and Count Czernin's speeches. ' The newspaper endeavours • to , disprove - the imputation, that serious differences-have been revealed between Berlin' and -Vienna.

The Hertling and-Czernin speeches have evoked considerable biting comment, in allied capitals. The- Echo . de_ Paris., says that the allies are exchanging Tie in order to jointly reply. Other newspapers contrast the height of moral conception in Dr. Wilson's speech with'the' ; %rroganfc spirit of the enemy declaration. --i . An Italian .comment .is that the two speeches show with certainty, .the gaps in the enemy war aims. The basis is 'the status quo before the. war, except as regards the Baltic Provinces and Poland, on which the speeches are < ambiguous. The general sentiment is crystallised in the conviction that ■to exchange speeches, however noble and; wise, with the Central Empires is a mere waste of breath.The Daily News says.:—" It is an encouraging change in the tone of-BarortJ'Hert-ling that he has chosen i to reply -'hi detail to 'President Wilson's propositions. ' If the speech were Germany's last -word horizon would be dark, "but the word lies with democratic GejnYany,-".'aiid''lier allies are moving far more^apidly''toward peace." ' ¥$&.£*■ > ' The Daily Chronicle remarks:—"•Baron Hertling continues German tradition ; in regarding every concession" by the'-opposing party as a sign of-..weakness:.-Nothing but Germany's defeat will bring a. change to her heart." ../"..■■ The Morning Post writes:— Having again received proof of Germany's inexpugnable hatred. towards England, 'we will get on with the war.";,. ,; , , ; The Daily Telegraph .says:—■' A; close examination of Baron Hertling's speech'does not, indicate tjie • slightest change in the Prussian military minc£.v-Wa'" : ave'.'iii tho same position as before: It- jUffifess to talk peace." .■?''.■''■'.'■?':'. '•/*-•'