Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-01-27
tions and endeavor to strike some de-
cisive blow as early as possible
Real Attitude

cisive blow as early as possible.
Real Attitude
"Germany's real attitude towards
Belgium was thus frankly given by the
German foreign secretary to the Brit
ish ambassador and the German chan
cellor in his speech to the Reichstag
claimed the right to commit a wrong
in virtue Of the military necessity ct
hacking his way through. The treaty
which forbade the wrong was by COM
parison mere scrap Of paper.
The truth was spoken in these
first statements by the two German
ministers. All the apologies and ar
guments which have since bts,n forth
coming are after-thoughts to excuse
and explain away fragrant wrong.
Moreover, all the attacks upon Great
Britain in regard to this matter and
all talk about responsibilities toward
neutral states come badly from the
men who. on July 20, asked Great Bril-
tain to enter into bargain to condone
the violation Of the neutrality Of Bel
GUM.
THE German chancellor spoke to
forts for years to bring about an un-
Outstanding between England and Ger
many. An understanding he added
which would have absolutely guaran-
teed the peace of Europe
Pledge Requested
''He omitted to mention what Mr..
Asquith made public in his speech at
Cardiff that Germany requested as the
price of all understanding an uncondi-
tional pledge of England's neutrality. The
British government were ready to bind
themselves not to be parties to any ag-
gression against Germany. They were
not prepared to pledge their neutrality in
case Of aggression by Germany
IAN Anglo-German understanding on
the latter terms would not have meant
an absolute guarantee for the peace o.
Europe, but it would have meant an ab-
solutely free hand for Germany, so far
as England was concerned, for Germany
to break peace of Europe.
1.-THE chancellor says that in his con-
versation with the British ambassador in
August last he may have been bit
excited at seeing the hopes and work of
the whole period of his chancellorship
going for naught.' Considering that at
the date of the conversation. Aug. 4, Ger
many had already made war on France.
the natural conclusion is that the ship
wreck of the chancellor's hopes consist
ed not in European war. but in the
fact that England had not agreed to
stand out of it.
1.-The sincerity of the German chancel-
lor's professions to the American CORE
spondent may be brought TO very SIM
pie test, the application of which is more
opposite because it serves to recall one
of the leading facts which produced the
present war.
Proposal Refused
Herr Won Bethmann- Holweg refused
the proposal which England put forward
and in which France. Italy and Russia
concurred, for a conference at which the
dispute would have been settled on fair
and honorable terms without war. If he
really wished to work with England for
peace why did he not accept that pro-
posal? He must have known after the
Balkan conference in London that Eng
land could be trusted TO play fair. Herr
Won Jagow had given testimony in the
Reichstag to England's good faith in
those negotiations.
THE proposal for the second conference
between the powers was made by Sir
EdWerd Grey with, the same straightfor-
ward desire for peace as in 1872 and 1912.
The German chancellor rejected this
means of averiing the war He who does
not will the means must not complain II
the conclusion is drawn that ne did not
will the end.
The second part of the interview with
an American newspaper correspondent
consists of discourse upon the ethics Of
the war The things which Germany
had done in Belgium and France have
been placed on record by those who have
suffered from them and who know them
at first hand. After this it does not lie
with the German chancellor to read to
the other belligerents a lecture upon the
conduct of the war"