GERMAN CHANCELLOR’S SPEECH.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11473, 27 February 1918, Page 8

GERMAN CHANCELLOR’S SPEECH.

APPARENTLY OONOiIIftTORY. PROFESSION OF AGREEMENT WITH WILSON. DENIES INTENTION OF ANNEXATION DOUBTS ABOUT BELGIUM. Received Feb. 2 7 l.dO p.iu Amsterdam, Feb. 20. Von Hcrfcling, in a speech, said every desirable peace must be built mion justice. He agreed witli President Wilson's declaration that nations and provinces ought not to he shifted from ono State to another Ho rejoiced in president Wilson's statement rejecting the idea oi the balance of power. (Germany's advance oust ward was only aimed at renewing peace witli Russia. Her aiai was not conquest. She merely wanted to restore order without fixing herself in Fsthonia or Livonia. As to CourPuul and Lithuania, he had nothing to say. The people there wore already suceessfnlily cfe.il mg self-governing bodies. Respecting Poumenia lie would state that wo mast and will make friends for all time.

He doubted the ability of public speeches by statesmen, hut the cause of peace could be furthered by private discussion between responsible representatives of Belgium. The question of Belgium should ho discussed in a friendly manner in order to arrive at an understanding. Germany had repeatedly declared that it did' not think of returning Belgium, hut Germany must be protected against Belgium being used as a deploying ground for enemy machinations