The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-12-09

take this fact into account. Theo-
retical argument for peace or propos-
| ais of peace will not advance us, will
not bring the end nearer.
IF our enemies make peace pro-
posals compatible with Germany's
dignity and safety, then we shall al
ways be ready to discuss them Fully
conscious of our mistaken military
successes we decline responsibility for
| continuation of the misery which now
| fills Europe and the whole world. No
one can say that we continue the war
because we still desire to conquer this
or that country as a guarantee.
Cheered His Remarks.
In these words the chancellor, with
| inpassioned force, stated the position
| of the German government on the
question of peace His remarks were
| cheered with great enthusiasm
Spoke German Tongue.
He discussed the principle of ma
| tionality as applied by Germany's enc
mics. He asked whether the British
colonial secretary knew that of the
! 100000 inhabitants of Alsace more
than 81 per cent spoke German as the
mother tongue. He asked whether
Poland belonged to Russia by right of
nationality, whether this principle lost
its power and value if applied to India
or Egypt. Germany's enemies, blind
ed as in the beginning of the war by
false stories, excited to hatred, were
now able, after military and diplo-
/ of GermanyS humiliation.
For this purpose there has been in
vented the theory that Germany could
be starved. On this point the chan
I ce1lor said, with particular EN- phaSis:
Food and Munition Material.
1--WE all agree that our food supply
| is sufficient, that the only important
| question is distribution. The economic
unit stretching from Arras into Meso-
potamia cannot be crushed. '
Ac 70 1rn oh Inr.4 n
clared, Germany had immense stores.
sufficient for years and years He
spoke of Germany's success IN pro-
ducing substitutes for certain articles,
such as rubber.
| The idea that it was possible to
starve Germany, he continued, should
be abandoned. According to the re-
cent census, there were 100000
swine and 100000 Kilograms of po-
tatoes in Germany, which proved
| there was sufficient food for all.
First to Dare Suggest Peace.
i TT words of Emperor William that
for germany this was no war of con-
quest were recalled by the speaker.
Inasmuch as Germany had defended
her frontiers successfully, it was
proper to ask the chancellor for an
| expression in regard to conditions of
peace. He declared that Germany in
sisted upon being treated as the equal
of other nations and repudiated the
idea that German hegemony was the
end in view.
might become an historic one. since
possibly Germany might gain the
glory of having been the first to dare
to speak of peace.
France Nearly Exhausted.
Referring to the discussion whether
bring greatly superior forces into the
field, the chancellor mentioned the
fact that France has already called
to the colors the class of 1917, bring
ing into the war youths under the
usual military age.
The chancellor referred to the
charge that members of the crew of
a German submarine had been shot
British patrol boat Baralong. and said
the English press had concealed the
fact of this from nation.
Arose in Indignation. -e
As he made these remarks the
whole house arose as an expression of
indignation.
Speaking of the guarantees of the
position Of Germany in the future to
be included in the peace terms, DIR.
Won Bethmann- Hollweg insisted the
longer the war is continued with in
creasing bitterness by Germany's enc
mics the greater is the need of such
guarantees.
I'VE do not fight in order to subiu-
gate other nations" he said. I'VE tight
for the protection of our life and lib
erty. For the German government,
the war has always been what it was
at the beginning war of defense for
the German nation and for her future.
1.-THE war can be terminated only by
a peace which will give the gertrude
that war will not return. We all agree
about that. There lies and there al
ways will lie the root of our strength"
Not Dismember Germany.
Or GcheidemaDn'S address was re-
ceived with a degree of interest second
only to that aroused by the chanceI-
lor's speech. He reminded the house