Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1915-12-17
GERMANY READY
TO DISCUSS PEACE
Puts Responsibility For Con-
tinuing War on Allies.
SEEK NO MORE CONQUESTS
imperial Chancellor Says Enemies
Must Propose Terms Consistent
With Empires Dignity and Safety.

With Empires @Dlgnity anu odiety.
"If our enemies make peace propos-
ais compatible with Germany's dignity
and safety, then we shall always be
really to discuss them," sad t e i'm
perial chancellor, D.. Won Be .hmann-
Hollweg, in addressing the reichs,a,
In Bcr.fn.
The chancellor made it clear that
in his opinion, it would be folly for
Germany to propose peace "as lols
as in the countries of our enemies the
guilt and ignorance of statesmen arc
entangled with confusion of publ
opinion"
Conscious of her military successes
the chancellor said, Germany decline:
responsibility for a furtha: con in
ton of the war. Germany, he declare
could not be charged with the purpo E
of fighting on to make further con
quests.
"The war can be terminated only
by a peace which will give the Ger
titude that war will not return" tht
chancellor declared. 1--WE all agree
about that"
He asserted Germany's focd SUI
plies were sufficient, and that the I'M
mense stores of copper were adequate
for many years.
The address Of Dr.. Won Bethmann
Hollweg, which has been awaited with
extraordinary interest, was made i.
response to the Socialistic interpella
ton: "Is the imperial chancel or
ready to give information as to th
conditions under which he would bt
willing to enter into peace neg@ta
tion?" In his reply he said:
"As long as In the countries Of oui
enemies the guilt and ignorance o.
statesmen are entangled with confu
sion of public opinion, it would b
folly for Germany to make peace IT
posals which wo,ld net shorten, b |
would lengthen the duration of the
war. First the masks must be tori
from their faces.
"At present they speak CT war oi
anihilation against us. We have t.
take this fact into account. TAeJ
retically arguments for peace or pr
posals of peace will not advance US,
will not hiring the end -naarer-
"If our enemies make peace pre-
posa!s comra atib'e with Germa@y's dig
nifty and safety, then we shall always
be ready to discuss them. Fully con
scious of our unshaken mill ary SUE
cesses, we decline responsibility fol
continuation of the misery which nov
fills Europe and the whole world. NJ
one can say that we continue the war
because we still desire to conquer this
or that country as a guarantee"
In these words the chancellor, with
impassioned force, stated the position
Of the German government on the
question of peace. His remarks were
cheered with great enthusiasm.
Speaking of the guarantees of tn
position of Germany in the future,
be included in the peace terms, DR.
Won Bethman-HollWeg insisted tina
the longer the war is continued, wi h
increasing bitterness. by Germany
enemies, the greater IS the need o.
such guarantees.
1--WE do not fight In order to subju
gate other nations" he said. "Wt
fight for the protection of our life an
liberty. For the German governme
the war has always been what it 49,
at the beginnings war of dee c.
for the German nation and Tor he.
future.
"The war can be terminated, cn!y
by a peace which will give the certi'
tude that war will not return. We a..
agree about that. There lies aad
there always will lie the root of our
strength"