The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-12-09
GERMANY
WILL DISCUSS
PEACE PLAN
tcont,uued from Page onc.D

tense silence throughout the whole
house and galleries. This was soon
interrupted by vigorous signs of as
sent.
Chancellor Ven Bethmann Hollweg
first declared that the prospects OF
peace discussion in the reichstag had
excited great expectations and much
satisfaction In the countries Of Ger
many's enemies. That this feeling
should prevail was incomprehensible.
he said, in view Of Germany's sue
CO sses In Serbia. after opening the
road towards her Turkish Allies and
after threatening the most vulner-
able points of the British empire.
Although this situation. he said,
would explain the desire Of Ger
inany's enemies for peace, none OF
them have made any overtures. They
rather cling to the intentions which
they publicly had announced at the
beginning Of tie war, he said with
naive brutality"
The chancellor reviewed recent ut
terances about possible peace condi-
tons that have come from Ger
many's enemies. He mentioned
among these the handing over of AL
cace-Iorraine 10 the French and the
humiliation OF so-called Prussian
militarism, the expulsion Of the
Turks from Europe; the cession of
the left bank OF the Rhine to France,
ard the creation of greater Serbia,
including what is now the Austrian,
province Of Bosnia.
Won Bethmaun-Hollw said he
recognized the fact that some peo-
pie In foreign countries were in
clined to look at the situation sensi-
bly,. But these, he said. are in the
minority, and their voices go un-
heard like those of certain members
of the English house of lords.
But the enemies theories have
lost force" he said. THE people
have ceased speaking about the war
lasting 20 years. The fpretext that
they are waging war for the protec-
ton of small countries has lost Its
persuasive power since the recent
events in Greece.
Small countries are In a severe
plight since England Is fighting"
The chancellor discussed the prin-
ciple of nationalities as applied by
Germany's enemies, and asked
whether the English colonial secre-
tary knew that Of the 100000 in
habitants of Alsace more than 81
per cent speak German as their
mother tongue. He asked whether
Poland by right of nationality be-
longs to Russia. He demanded TO
know whether the same principle
applied by England I'm the case OF
Alsace loses power when applied to
India and Egypt.
Germanys enemies. Won Beth
mann -Hollweg said. had blinded
themselves at the beginning OF the
war by false stories about Germany.
Nov after military and diplo-
matte defeats" he said. they are
only able to cling To the idea OF Ger
many's humiliation. For this pur-
pose they invented the starvation
theory.
I'VE all agree" he said emphatic
ally. that our foodstuffs are suffi-
Gent and that the only important
question is that Of distribution. The
great economic unit stretching from
Arras into .Mesopotamia cannot be
crushed"
The chancellor mentioned the
great stores of copper which he said
were sufficient for years and years
of industrial demands, and the In
PRODUCTION Of substitutes like artifi'
cial rubber.
He pointed out that France al.
ready has called to the colors boys
OF the class OF 1917.
The more Germany's enemies con-
tinue the war with bitterness, Beth
mann-Hollweg said. the more will
Germany need guarantees to insure
her future position.
I'VE do not fight to subjugate
other nations" declared the chan
cellor in conclusion. I'VE fight for
the protection Of our life and lib
erty. For the German government
this war has always remained what
II was at the beginnings war OF
defense"
This war can only he terminated
nv a peace which gives human certi-
tude that u will not return. We all
agree about that, and there always
Will be the root OF our strength"
Dr. Philip Scheidemann, the So
cialist leader whose Interpolation
resulted in today's peace discussion,
followed the chancellor
DR. Scheidemann reminded the
reichstag that at the beginning OF
the war the Socialists approved the
attitude OF the German government
"A glance at the map" said
Scheidemann, will show that Ger.
many Ia conscious OF her strength
and her successes.
Germany can now speak for
peace without risking being consid-
cred weak hearted or dispirited.'
Scheidemann protested against
those who dream OF d war OF ahnexa-
ton
But equally foolish IL II for our
| .na,,,.. to advocate the dismember.