GERM AMY’S NATION AL PARTY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 145998, 3 December 1917, Page 7

GERM AMY’S NATION AL PARTY.

VON TIRPITZ ’THE CHIEF SPOKESMAN. ENGLAND THE ENEMY THAT COUNTS.

AMSTERDAM.. Sept. 26. Grand Admiral von Tirytsl-spokc yesterday at the first -propaganda meeting in Berlin of the new German * atheihmd party. The large hall of the Philharmonic was filled an hour befoio the moating, and an overflow was hold in tho Rhemgold HnR Mira crons uniformed sailors noted- a** 4 ® 1 ?" j-rds Duke Johann Albrecht of ■Mecklenburg.'the honorary president oFtho partv, opened the proceedings, dcc.ai ing that the occasion of the foundation of tho new party was the breaking of the civil peace, so that domestic strife arose threatening to paralyse Germany's strong arm. Grand Admiral von Tirpitz was enthusiastically greeted Doth when ho entered the hall and when he rose _to speak. According to the Vossischc/Settling his voice lacks colour, hut he maljes an impression of convincing sobriety and trustworthiness. The Grand Admiral discussed 'Germany's eh a rafter’ as an agricultural and industrial State, and reviewed the development of social policy under William 11. The sea. however, so far *as Germany had-a share of it at-all, offered a necessary and beneficent adjustment in 'the internal life of their State. Proceeding from the fundaniftiltid problem of all State development and assertion, von Tirpitz inquired how Germany could have acquired and niamtained'power. especially sea newer. It was impossible : peacefully. The real underlying cause of this war’was tho difference between the British and the-Con-tinental' world view. Von Tirpitz discussed England’s growing jealousy of Germany’s increasing naval influence. There was no object now in discussing whether tho submarine war should havo begun sooner. It would, however, continue to gnaw at'the life nerve of Germany’s enemies if the Germans struck to 'it. Economically the Germans were invincible, and victory showed itself froih afar without one’s being able to fix tho month. England wished according to tlm old method to defeat Germans bv Germans, Von Tirpitz brought down the house by declaring that the shutting off of the sea was no measure of reprisal ; it. was “legal and-lawful •means. ” England regarded everything as-right-Which favoured her and as wrong which was detrimental.to her. Concerning Belgium, von Tirpitz said it-was not wrong but right that had been done to Belgium. That must at enee bo, said finite clearly. (Loud cheers.) A i>eaee without indemnification of a tangible kind signified Germany's defeat and AngloPAmerican capitalism’s victory.

But another thing was involved. According to- an- Expression of Frederick the Groat, reputation was a thing without price, and gave more than might. “The end of this war must therefore prove clearly to all nations that England has not beaten us. Gennauv can only attain that through the right -solution of the Belgian question. England knows that perfectly. A reallv neutral Belgium never existed ; Belgium was always England’s bridgehead. We must, therefore. will that not England hut Germany shall he its protecting Power. Tins for us is a military end economic condition of existence. Can anyone after this war honestly still believe that paper treaties could protect ns, or even secure our economic interests there? They will gave ns as many mere promises as we wish to have.” Von Tirpitz added that tho “damned party wrangling must cease so long'ns Germany’s house was afire.” Only in Germany could people be born who believed that at an “international conference” one would willingly give Germany a place in the sun in world-power. 'Should there ho people prepared to surrender Germany’s future for party ends the grand-children of tho present generation would curse thorn. Ho then declared, while pointing to tho awful sacrifices which even the greatest victory could not outweigh, that tho Reichstag majority peace resolution would -in truth signify Germany’s defeat and the victory of Anglo-American capital. Ultimately, however, a people’s dignity is its noblest possession. Therefore aloim must Germanv maintain its world position despite England. Von Tirpitz saw no insuperable difficulties in the,East. The enemy which mattered was England. The struggle concerned the freedom of the European continent. Military victory was Germanv’s. Political victory would be hers also if they had heart and will thereto.

Tho audience rose, and its repeated cheers compelled von Tirpitz to how his acknowiedsrments Another speaker caused endless-applause by saying that no Alsace-Lorraine question, no Belgium no disarmament question exists-for Germany. She must have Indemnities. There were no paragraphs which could regulate vital questions by arbitration.