HERTLING'S SPEECH.

Taihape Daily Times, 18 February 1918, Page 6

HERTLING'S SPEECH.

CRITICISM IN GERMANY. ENEMY'S DISTRUST INCREASED. LONDON, January 30. [ The Times corespondent at AmsterI dam says that before Baron Hertling j 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 Forty and the Chancellor are united. Vital necessities will be guaranteed.'' Everyone knows what von Tirpitz regards as vital necessities. Herr Scheidemann says 'that the circular caused great emotion in Germany, and more 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. France and America would admit that they were beaten. Baron Hertling only temporised and threatened, though he knew that even capture of Calais and Paris would not bring peace because England and America still remained. Herr Scheidemann further declared that the Kaiser had been. openly insulted in the streets of Vienna, but even during the Austrian i 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. i Dr. Wilson should be told that Alsace must remain German, but that Belgium would be honourably and completely reinstated. He concluded, "Remember, the feeling 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 says 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 Government now rejects that promise. No doubt the Government is unwilling to reinstate Belgium's political independence, requirig conquests in the west, as in the east, under the veil of hypocrisy." Other newspapers complain of the absence of. a clear declaration concerning Belgium, which would have removed the 'obstacle to a belief in the sincerity of Germany's peace efforts. ; ■ The Deutsche Zcitung, 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 re-•pbi-ts 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 Am--erica endangers Germany's life in-

terests.

L. t CAMPAIGN OF HYPOCEISY,

The Daily Mail's correspondent at Berne says that Czernin is continuing the terrible comedy of hypocrisy which began in 1914. Aware that the Austrian masses madly want peace, but that Austria is at Germany's mercy, he is obliged to carry on the conspiracy and play Germany's game, : Eeuter's correspondent at Amsterdam states that the Norddeutscho Zeitung—published in Berlin—rebukes the German press for lack of political prudence in critically contrasting Baron von Hertling's and Count 0201°nin's speeches. Th e newspapers endpavoun 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 views in order to jointly r *Ply. Other newspapers contrast the height of moral conception in Dr. Wilson's speech with the arrogant spirit °f the enemy declaration. 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, ex-

cept 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 Baron Hertling that he has chosen to reply in detail to President Wilson's propositions. If the speech were Germany's last word the horizon would be dark, but the last word lies with democratic Germany, and her allies arc moving ,far more rapidly 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 oxamination of Baron Hertling's speech does not indicate the slightest change in the Prussian military mind. We are in the same position as before. It is useless -to talk peace."