New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-20
Chancellor Accuses Kai-
ser'S Foes of Deceiving
Their Own People.
GREY'S PROMISE
OF AID AFTER WAR
England Would Use Germany
Against Russia, Bethmann-
HollWeg Declares.

'llle, L.. l.).-Dr. Won Bethmann- HolI-
veg, German Imperial Chancellor, in a
speech to-day at the opening of the
retraced the history of the European
events leading up to the present war.
He unveiled what he said were at
tempts made by the enemies of Ger
many to conceal the whole truth from
the nations at large and from their
own people.
This, he said, was proved by the in
completeness of the information given
by the diplomats Of the Entente Allied
countries to their own pariaments, and
he said it showed that up to the present
the complete truth was hidden and for
hidden in the Entente Allied countries
The Chancellor added:
81 never have concealed anything
from the representatives Of the German
nation. | never had anything to con-
ceal."
DR.. Won Bethmann- Hollweg discussed
Poland's future, and announced that
the previous German and Polish antag-
onism had been abolished. He said:
"The present occupation of Poland
is the beginning of an evolution which
will lead the country, freed from the
Russian yoke, toward brighter future
and able TO develop and cultivate its
individual and national character"
Reviews Military Situation.
Reviewing the present military situa-
ticn, the Chancellor said:
again all French attempts to shatter
our west front have failed, in spite of
the contempt for death and the reck-
less waste of human lives of the
French.
"Italy, our new enemy, who thought
that she could easily take her neigh
boris coveted goods, has been splendidly
repulsed, in spite of numerical su-
pcriority, and has made an immense
sacrifice in human lives.
"Unshaken and unsuitable stands
the Dardanelles front.
I'VE greet our faithful allies and ex-
tend special greetings to the exalted
ruler of the Danube, the monarch who
yesterday entered upon his eighty-sixth
year
eve ourselves have taken almost all
Galicia and a large part of Poland.
Lithuania and Courland, and our lines
everywhere, far advanced into the en-
Cmies' countries, stand like walls. We
ourselves have strong armies free at
our disposal for new enterprises.
Proudly and without fear we look
into the future!"
The Chancellor arraigned what he de-
clared was the English pretence that
Great Britain was fighting in the in
terests of small neutral countries.
"The legitimate commerce of neutral
countries" he said, "has been strangled
by England, which forbids neutrals to
transport merchandise coming from or
going to Germany, even if the mer-
chandise is not contraband. Neutral
ships are forced to take English crews
on board on the high seas and do as
they command
Greek Islands Occupied.
England occupies Greek islands
without explanation, because this is
convenient for the liberty of the mill
tary operations Of herself and her al
lies. She tried, together with her al
lies, TO force neutral Greece to con-
cede territory to Bulgaria because she
desires to engage the latter nation on
her side.
an Poland, Russia, fighting together
with her allies for the liberty of ma
tions, destroys before the retreat of
her armies the whole country evacuat-
ed, burns villages, despoils harvests,
expels the entire population of villages
and cities, Christians and Jews alike,
turning them into desert countries, and
lets them perish in the dirt of Russian
roads or in ii ,htly closed railroad cars
without windows.
"This is the liberty, this is the civ
iliZation for which our enemies are
fighting"
The Chancellor enumerated cases in
which he said England had violated the
rights of small nations, citing the Boer
republics, Egypt and Persia.
The Chancellor, in sensational
statement. quoted the words which he
declared Sir Edward Grey spoke to the
German Ambassador to London when
the latter took leave of the British For
eign Minister after the beginning of
the war, in August, 1914.
Causes a Sensation.
"Sir Edward Grey" said the Chan
cellor, "emphasizing his words, said
that the war between the two coun-
tries would make it possible that at the
conclusion of peace he could render us
more valuable services than had Eng
land remained neutral"
The Chancellor explained that he in
terpreted these words TO mean that
England desired the friendship of a
beaten and weakened Germany as
counter influence against powerful Rus
STA. England would be ready TO use
such a Germany-a weak country,
without industry and without a navy.
The Chancellor's report of this scene
in London caused a profound sensa-
ton in the Reichstag.
Commenting upon recently published
documents declared TO be secret reports
of Belgian diplomats, the Chancellor
declared they proved that Germany had
been attacked after long and careful
preparation by others Tor war. He re-
viewed an attemp: to arrive at an I'M
derstanding with England after the
Moroccan crisis, stating that England
had declined Germany's suggestion for
an unconditional mutual neutrality, but
had offered to promise 10 make no at
tack upon Germany without provoca-
ton. and had given assurances that
England had entered into no engage
ment 70 attack Germany and would not
enter into one.
Contradicts Asquith.
The Chancellor said he had sug-
eested: England therefore will OBJ
viously observe benevolent neutrality
should war be forced upon Germany"