The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-05
SPEECH FROM THRONE
IN GERMAN DEFENSE
Emperor William Tells How Greatest
of AL Struggles Has Been
Forced Upon Him.
CALLS UPON CoUNTRY,iEN
Tells His People 1t Was With Heavy
Heart That lie Ordered Forces
Modified to Protect Nation Against
Greed OF Others.

BERLIN. August 4.-Empcror vii.
liam opened the Imperial Parliament
to-day with speech from the throne.
lie said In part:
Tho world has been witness of
the interchangeable manner in which we
stood in the front rank in the cndcavor
TO save Europe from war between
the great powers. Tho greatest pcrils
due TO events in the Balkans appcared
to have been overcome, but then tho
ASA ssination OF my friend. the Arch
duke Francis Ferdinand, opened up a
great abyss
My ally. Emperor Francis Joseph.
WAS compelled to take up arms to pro
teci his empire against tho dangerous
agitation in a neighboring atatc.
"In pursuing its interests the Rus.
sian empire stepped in the way Of
Austria hungary.
Not only our duty as All ally called
us To the side OF Austria Hungry. but
the great task was cast upon us to
protect our position against unfriend-
ly forces.
ut was with heavy heart was
compelled TO mobilize my army. The
RUSSIAN government giving way TO an
Unsuitable nationa lIsm has stopped to
the side of the state which. through a
/ criminal act. had brought about the
calamity Of this war. That France
also played herself on tho side of our
opponent was not surprising to US
The present situation arose not
from temporary conflicts OF interest or
diplomatic combinations. but is the re-
suit of ill-will existing for years
against the strength and prosperity OF
the German empire
we are not pushed on By tho de-
sire Of conquest. We moved by the
unbending desire to secure for our
selves and those coming after us the
place on which God has put us
My government and. above all my
chancellor. tried until the last moment
to prevent the worst happening.
I'm enforced self-defcnse. with clear
conscience and clean hands. we grasp
the sword.
TO the peoples and races OF the
German empire my appeal goes forth
to stand together fratcrnally with our
allies in defense of that which we
have created in peaceful work
Following the example OF our fore
fl Tiers. firm and faithful. earnest and
chivalrous. humble before our God.
and ready to night when In face OF the
enemy. let US confide ourselves to the
everlasting Almighty. who will
strengthen our defense and conduct II
TO good end"
At the conclusion OF his speech from
the throne the Emperor addressed the
deputies directly, saying:
't;entlemen.-Iou have read what |
said TO my people the other day from
the balcony of my castle. repeat
now that I no longer know any par
tics know only Germans, ard in
order 10 testify that YOU are firmly
resolved. without distinction Of party.
10 stand BY my side through danger
and death. call upon the leaders of
the different parties in this house to
come forward and lay their hands In
mine Is pledge"
OUTLINES EFFORTS
TO PRESERVE PEACE
Chancellor Bethmann. out
lined the procedure of Germany in an
endcavor to maintain peace. saying:
From the outbreak Of the Austro-
Scrvian conflict We worked to confine
the hostilities OF Austria and Servia
MI the Cabinets particularly that OF
Great Britain. used the same cndcavor
something 10 say as 10 the solution OF
the conflict and thereby ran the danger
of European complications.
AS soon AS the first definite news
was received regarding the Russian
military preparations. we directed a
friendly but strong communication.
pointing out that warlikc measures
against Austria Hungary would find
us on the side of our ally that mill.
tary preparations against US would
force us to corresponding counter
measures, and that mobilization would
not be far removed from war Russia
declared she would not enter into any
sort OF military preparations against
us.
I'm the meantime England sought to
mediate between Vienna and St Peters
burg. We warmly supported her on
July IS the Emperor of Germany re-
1uested the Emperor of Russia to con
slider that Austria Hungary had the
right and duty to protect herself
against the great Servian plots
About the same time and prior 10
the rcccip, OF tins telegram. tho Rus
sian Emperor urgently asked the Ger
man Emperor for his aid and request
ed the German Emperor to counsel
moderation. The Russian mobilization
was decided in principle before the
Russian Emperor addressed himself TO
the German Emperor. The latter no.
tilted the Russian Emperor forthwith
that his good offices as mediator would
be made more difficult by this general
mobilization against Austria Hungary.
Nevertheless We continued our media
ton.
During this time Russia renewed
spontaneously its assurances that IL
was making no military preparations
against us. July 81 came. 4 decision
was 10 have been made in Vienna. our
mediation already had been success
full TO the extent that Vienna under
pressure from us, had again entered
into direct conversations with ST.
Petersburg. But before the decision
could be given in Vienna the news
reached us tina, Russia was modifying
entire fnrcps CT L. =.