THE CENTRAL POWERS.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14648, 28 February 1918, Page 5

THE CENTRAL POWERS.

CHANCELLOR ON PEACE

ESSENTIALS.

A HYPOCRITICAL SPEECH

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

Amsterdam, Feb. 26.

Yon Hertling, in a speech in the Reieistag, said that every durable peace must be built upon justice. He agreed with President Wilson's declaration that nations and provinces ought not to be shifted from one State to another. He rejoiced in Presidert? Wilson's statement of the rejection vf the idea of a balance of power. Germany's advance eastward was or-ly aimed at securing peace with Russia. Her aim was not conquest, but she merely wanted to lestore order without fixing herself in Estlonia or Livonia. As to Courland and Lithuania he had nothing to say. The peopia there were already successfully orea+- ! ing self-government bodies. Respecting Rouniania, he would state that they must, and would, make friends for all time. He doubted the utility of p.i,!.----lie speeches by statesmen, but the cause of peace could be furthered by private discussions between responsible representatives of the belligerents.'. The question of Belgium should be discussed in a friendly manner in order to arrive at an understanding. Germany repeatedly declared that she did not think of retaining Belgium, but Germany must be protected against Belgium being used as a deploying ground for enemy machinations.