Kansas City daily journal., 1896-11-17
HOHENLOHE MAKES A STATEMENT
TO THE REICHsTAG.
REPLIES TO FORMAL QUESTIONS
NO ILL EFFECT FROM BIsMARCK's
REVELATIONS.
Germany's Relations With the Drei-
Bund Countries and With Russia
as Friendly as Ever-Von
Bieberstein's Tribute
to Bismarck.

Berlin, Nov. 16.-In anticipation of a
statement from the imperial chancellor,
Prince Hohenlohe, on the subject of the
revelations made by Prince Bismarck,
through his organ, the Hamburger Mach
richten, regarding the secret treaty which
existed between Russia and Germany from
1886 TO 1885, there was a large attendance
at the opening of the reichstag to-day.
Among those present was Count Herbert
Bismarck, eldest son of the ex-chancellor,
who, it was rumored. was 10 take an ac-
tive part in the debate and defend his faith
er against attacks.
Count Won Hompresch. Centrist leader.
introduced the interpolation, notice Of
which was given on Wednesday last. In
brief, the question was, did a secret con-
vention between Russia and Germany ex-
list up to 1880, and if so, why was it not
prolonged? Finally, have the recent dis
closures had influence upon the dreibund
and Germany's relations with the other
powers?
In reply. Prince Hohenlohe said: I'm re-
gard TO the negotiations between Russia
and Germany from 1887 10 1890, il was
agreed at the time that absolute secrecy
should be observed. The point of time
when this obligation ceased cannot, in con-
sequence, be defined by us alone. l there
fore, for the moment, am not in a position
10 give official information concerning the
result of those negotiations
LAS regards the tendency of German pol
icy towards Russia, since the spring of
1890 il is equally impossible TO give an ex-
haustve reply so long as that obligation
continues, and leave ii to the foreign sec
retary who took part in the deliberations
to say what can be said in that respect
As TO the effect which recent publica-
tons have had upon the position of Ger
many in the dreibund and Her relations
with other European powers, l am glad TO
to able to declare that the cloud OF distrust
which at the first moment was observable
among some classes of the population of
those countries has again disappeared, and
our relations with our allies are marked
now, as before, by absolute mutual conf
dence. In the same way, our relations with
Russia have never for a moment ceased TO
TO good and friendly" Applause from all
parts OF the house)
The minister for foreign affairs. Baron
Marschall Won Bieberstein, followed the
chancellor. He said: Entering upon the
subject of German policy towards Russia, I
am perfectly alive to the great difficulties
of the task. Please do not expect any rev
clations from me. l have no authority to
make them, and, moreover. they would
probably only increase the strife and we
have had enough strife in the country"
NlFleS OF very tTue.'D
Continuing, Baron Won Bieberstein. after
celebrating on the growing undesirabiIity
of war, and the pains which nations
are now prone to take in avoiding it, said,
concerning the non-renewal of the en-
tiente with Russia:
The course of time has taught us that
the omission to renew the treaty has not
led to diminished peace guarantees for
Germany. Did the acute danger of war
arise at any time in those years? No. 1t
is said the policy embittered our relations
with Russia resist the temptation to
compare our relations with that country
before and after 1890 Comparison is un-
necessary and useless, and it will always
rebound to the honor of Prince Bismarck
that he knew how, in difficult times 10
maintain our relations with Russia on a
good and friendly footing, make them use
full in case of war and Serve indirectly to
the maintenance of peace History will
place these services in a still clearer light
than l have done to-day. (Cheers)
But it seems like attempting to depre-
ciate and undervalue Prince Bismarck's
services to assert that prior to 1880 these
relations only rested upon the fragile ped
esial of agreements which needed to he
renewed from time to time. Our relations
with Russia row rest upon firmer basis,
on the friendship of the reigninE families,
on the love of peace of the sovereigns on
the governments observance of treaties
and on the mutual desire to see them re-
spected. when our archives are opened 1t
will be shown that after 1890 German policy
successfully strove to maintain relations
with Russia on this basis and that no
serious political differences have arisen
Following Won Beberstein remarks
there was general discussion Of the ques-
ton, the socialist members scoring Bis
Inarck's policy, and the Liberals express
ing themselves as satisfied with the gov
ernment's explanation
At the close of the debate Count Herbert
Won Bismarck, replying to personal re-
marks. said that after Prince Won Hohen-
lobe's statement. discussion became purely
objective and his sense of propriety for
baGe him TO say anything.
The reichstag then adjourned without
any vote being taken on the question