Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1915-12-09
warning NATIONS NOW
WILLING TO TALK PEACE
Premier Asquih Tells House Of Commons England Will
Discuss Terms Of Peace Either Directly or Through
Neutral Nation and Germany Indicates Readiness to
Enter Into Negotiations That May Lead TO End Of War

many's safety even II annexation OF
territory Is necessary, II had been
suggested. though. that annexation Ii
not what Germany seeks.
Hollweg claimed that the allies
had tried liberal offers to persuade
Bulgaria 10 Join them.
But King Ferdinand redeemed
the promise he gave after the second
Balkan war. In which Bulgaria bore
tho brunt OF the battle and was then
deserted by Russia" said tho chan
cellor. Serbia then received her re.
ward from Russia because Of her van
guard against Austria. but now Bul.
garian flags float over the recon
quered Bulgarian soil. Serbia Is
crushed and another small country
has been sacrificed for the allies in
terest.
The Danube is now free. The
Turkish position at the Dardanelles
Ia firmer than ever. although Premier
Asquith OF England this summer pro-
claimed It's imminent fall"
The chancellor mentioned, too, the
allies attempts to regain the lost
Balkans through threats OF ven
geance against Greece.
Those who used the pretext that
they are warning agalns 'Prussian
Imilitarism.' now threaten Greece
with the English navy. This attitude
makes II impossible for them to con.
tlnue their hypocrisy about Bel
gium."
The economic life OF Belgium. Won
Bethmann-Hollweg declared. is re-
vlving. Her coal mines. crippled by
the war. produced $500, 900 tons In
the last three months, and this is al
most the normal amount.
Belgium" he said. NOW suffers
from the fact that England hinders
export OF Belgian goods. Germany's
task In Russia is especially hard
since the Russian government has
left everything undone. Germany
has built nearly 5000 miles of new
roads. We have opened new schools,
but these teach the mother tongue,
not Russian. In Warsaw the Polish
language. and. In Belgium the Flem-
ish, were formerly suppressed"
Bethmann-Hollweg charged "the
allies newspapers are full Of sensa-
tional lies about Germany. as they
need something to divert public at
tention from their own miserable
ness"
Galleries were filled some time In
advance OF the chancellor's speech.
Tickets OF admission had been eager
ly taken up, and when the chancellor
arose not vacant seat was to be
had.
Scheidemann assailed those favor
ing annexation OF conquered coun-
tries, and reminded them that the
kaiser himself declares this is not a
war OF conquest by Germany.
Berlin, via Wireless to Sayvllle,
Dec. 9.---Germany stands ready to
discuss peace proposals with her
enemies. provided they are "com-
patible with Germany's dignity and
safety"
Such was Chancellor Won Beth
mann-Hollweg's statement at peace
day" in the reichstag today before
crowded galleries.
"As long as In enemy countries,
the statesmen's guilt and Ignorance
arc entangled with the public's con-
fusion" Hollweg declared, 1T would
be folly for Germany to make pro-
posals which would not shorten, but
instead would lengthen the war.
First the masks must be torn
from their faces. Now they speak
Of a war OF annihilation against us.
We have to consider this fact--that
theoretical arguments for peace Will
not advance us; they will not bring
tho end nearer.
''If our enemies make proposals
compatible with Germany's dignity
and safety, we will always be ready
to discuss them."
Germany does not, however, ac-
N.f (Continu0d on mage al ssI lNa