HOLLWEG’S SPEECH

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9621, 29 March 1917, Page 6

HOLLWEG’S SPEECH

EVERYTHING STAKED AT THE CRITICAL MOMENT. AMSTERDAM, January 31. At to-day’s sitting of the main Committee of the Reichstag the Imperial Chancellor, Herr von Bethmann-Holl-weg, made the following statement: ‘‘On December 12th last year I explained before the Reichstag the reasons which fed to our peace offer. The reply of our opponents clearly and precisely said that, they decline peace negotiations with us. and that they want to hear only of a peace which they dictate. By this tho whole question of tho guilt for the continuation of the war is decided. Tho guilt alone falls on our opponents. Just as definite stands our task. The enemy s conditions we cannot discuss. They could only ho accepted hy a totally defeated, people. It therefore means fight/ “President Wilson’s message to Congress shows his sincere wish to restore peace to tho world. Many of his maxims agree with our aims, namely, the freedom of the seas, tho abolition of the system of balance of power, which, is always bound to lead to new difficulties ; equal rights for all nations, and tho open door to trade. THE FINAL GAMBLE.

“But what arc tho peace conditions of the Entente? Germany’s defensive force is to he destroyed, we are to lose Alsace-Lorraine and th© eastern provinces of tho OstTDfirken, tho Dual Monarchy is to bo dissolved, Bulgaria is again to be cheated of her national unity, and Turkey is to be pushed out of Europe and smashed in Asia. The destructive designs of our opponents cannot be expressed more strongly. We have been challenged to fight to the end. Wo asgept the challenge. We stake everything and we shall he victorious.

“By this development of tho situation the decision concerning submarine warfare has been forced' in to its last acute stage. The question of the Üboat war has occupied us three times in this committee, namely, in March, May, and September last year. On each occasion in an exhaustive statement I expounded points for and against in this question. I emphasised on each occasion that I was speaking pro tempore and not as a supporter of principle, or an opponent in principle, of tho unrestricted employment of the, U-boats, but in consideration of tho military, political, and economic situation as a whole. I always proceeded from tho standpoint as to whether an unrestricted U-hoat war will bring nsnearer to a victorious peace or not.” THE DECISIVE MOMENT. The Chancellor proceeded to explain why in March and May last he opposed an unrestricted U-boat war; why again in September, according to the unanimous judgment of the political and military authorities the question was not considered ripe for decision. He repeated his previous utterance that as soon as he in agreement with the supreme army command reached the conviction that ruthless U-boat war would bring Germany nearer to a victorious peace then U-hoat war would be started. '

“This moment,” ho continued, “has now arrived. We must, therefore, not wait any longer. The most important fact of all is that the number of our submarines has very considerably increased as compared with last spring, and / thereby a firm basis has bc*n created for our success. The second co-decisivG reason is the bad corn harvest of the world. This fact now confronts England, Trance, and Italy with serious difficulties. We firmly hope to bring those difficulties by means of an unrestricted U-boat war to the unbearable point. “The coal question too, is a vital question in war. Already it is critical in Italy and France. Our submarines will render it still more critical. To this must be added, especially as regards England, the supply of ore for the production of munitions in the widest sense, and of timber for coal mines. Our enemy’s difficulties are rendered still more acute by the increased lack of enemy cargo space. In this respect time and the U-boat and cruiser warfare have prepared the ground for a decisive blow. HINDENBURG’S ORDER. “The Entente suffers in all its members owing to lack of cargo space. It makes itself felt in Italy and France not less than in England. If we may now venture to estimate the positive advantages of an unrestricted U-boat war at a very much higher value than last spring, the dangers which arise for us from the U-boat war have correspondingly decreased since that time.” . .

After discussing in detail the political situation, the Chancellor continued: “A few days ago Marshal von Hindonhurg described to mo the situation as follows; ‘Our front stands firm on all sides. YVo have everywhere the requisite reserves. 'i ho spirit of the troops is good and confident. The military situation as a whole permits us to accept all consequences which an unrestricted U-boat war may bring about, and as this U-boat war in all circumstances is the means to injure our begun.’ AUSTRIA’S DECLARATION.

“The Admiralty Staff and the High Seas Fleet entertain the firm conviction that Great Britain will he brought to peace by arms. Our allies agree with our views. Austria-Hungary_ad-heics to our procedure also in practice. Austria declares a blockaded ai oa around Italy.” * N*o one among us, the Chancellor concluded, “will close, his eyes to tire

seriousness of tho step which we are taking. That our existence is at slake everyone has known since August 4th, 1914, and this has been brutally emphasised by the rejection of our peace offer. In now deciding to employ the best and sharpest weapon, wc are, guided solely by a sober consideration of sill the circumstances that come into question, and by a- firm determination to help our people out of the distress and disgrace which our ‘enemies contemplate for them. Success lies in a Higher Hand,- but as regards all that human strength can do to enforce success for tho ‘Fatherland, you may be assured that nothing has been neglected. •Everything in this respect will bo done.”