The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-12-09
GERMANY'S IDEAS ABOUT PEACE
GE22;12ANY

II "<.ODNUl
,[Unit ess Leased Wire service.l
q Il Dec 9. (Via Amsterdan.)
It's was "peace day" In tho Ger
man reIchstag. In anticipation Of an
Important address regarding tho pos
sIbIe ending Of the war, by Chancellor
Won Bethmann HoIIweg, crowds flock
ed early to the reichstaa building.
| In official circles It was hlnted that
those who expected sensational
declaration from tho chancellor at this
time were bound to be disappointed.
jIf Won eethmann HoIlweg intends to
announce to the world Germany's
terms Of peace, he has kept that fact
a secret. The general opinion was
that the chancellor would repeat his
eapIier statements that Germany Is
fighting to safeguard her future and
secure freedom Of the seas. It was be-
loved he would express Germany's
Willingness to enter peace negotiations
whenever those points were conceded
by Germany's enemies.
! The radical socialists were expected
to press the chancellor for moro
specific statement, but 1t was believ-
cd he would reply that more detailed
statement would not at this time best
serve the Interests Of the empire.
Chancellor Won Bethmann HolIwek
planned to touch briefly upon the
success Of German arms on all fronts.
The conquest Of Serbia and recent
success against the French In Cham
paene gave him fresh themes. He
was expected to point out at the sare
time the rout Of tho British forces on
Mesopotamia by the Turks, recent
AnaIo-French reverses at tho Dar-
danelIes, the continued failure Of ltal-
Ian attacks against Austria, and de-
feat Of AngIo-French diplomacy In the
Balkans.
The efforts Of the radical social
lists to heckie the chancellor are OK
pected to bring replies from the con-
servative branch Of tho socialists who
are opposed to peace discussions un-
til Germany's enemies admit their de-
feat.
cHANcELLoR's ADDRESS.
lIBy Carl w. Ackern'an, United Press
Staff Correspondent
BERLIN, (via wireless to Saysile,
L.. ~, Dec. e.-The Imperial German
|
/ TODAY refused to state possible terms
Of peace, in reply to the demand made
by the German socialists.
/ Instead, he made it plain to great
gathering In the reichstag, that any
| peace proposals must come from Ger
many's enemies.
"For the German nation" said the
chancellor, "this year has always re-
mained what it was at the beginning
Ia war Of defense for the German
nation and her future.
! Won Bethmann-H oIIWeg emphaticaI-
w served notice on the quadruple en-
tente that they must abandon COM
pIeteiy the idea sof crushing Germany,
1 or so called "Prussian mlitarisr."
The allies still cling to this notion,
he added, with naive brutality"
| He indicated, too, that Germany
would not consider as one Of the pos
sible terms Of peace the surrender to
France of Alsace and Lorraine.
He met the French claims on A.
SAGE and Lorraine on the "nationaiity
basis" with the statement that eighty
seven percent Of the Alsace nhabi-
Itants speak German. And he taunted
ENGLAND by inquiring what would hap
pen If the same "nationaIity" test
were applied in the British posses
sions Of india and Egypt.
1--WE do not fight to subjusate other
nations" was one Of the chanceIIor's
striking periods. 1--WE fight for the
protection Of life and liberty.
az our enemies make peace propos-
ais compatible with Germanys dig
nifty and safety, then we shall al
ways be ready to discuss them,' was
another assertion.
| no4nnanf later. ContinuInQs
"This war can only be terminated by
a peace which gives human certitude
that it will not yearn."
Thronqed galleries heard the chan
ceIIor's declaration. It was known
more than a week in advance that the
! chancellor would make his expected
answer to the demands Of the social
lists today and all tickets to the reich
stao were at premium several days
ago.
his socialist interrogator found them
selves in complete accord on certain
main points. They agreed that Ger
many now dominates the military and
sibiIity for continuing Of the carnage
| In Europe rests on the allies.
| Both ridIcuied tho idea that Ger
nany's enemies might crush her, or
starve her out, or that AIsaee Lor-
raIne might ever be surrendered to
the French.
But scheidemann Insisted that all
the beIliqerents are now thinking Of
peace.
'The question Of peace Is now up
permost in all the countries at war;"
he told the rechstae, "only the states
men do not know how to begin neeo-
tiations because they consider such a
step would be a confession Of weak
ness"
"If the war continues" shouted
Scheidemann, "the United States will
be the only victor. Europe will COM
NIT suicide"
! Schejdemann assaiIed those who