The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-22
Germany'S Annexation Ambi.
lions Have Been Revealed.
$4,000 Square Miles Territory
and Is Million People.
anti" PETITION OUT IN PARIS
Offices of Berlin Organiza-
ton Raided by Officers.
'Idea of Weakening Russia and
England, Pure Madness"

Paris Sept. 22-The first install
ment of an anti-anneXatiOniSt petition
issued by the German BuEd Nucs Va
terland is printed this morning by HUI
mantle The offices of the organiza =
ton in Berlin are said to have been
raided and one of the members, DR..
Wehbers, arrested on charge OF
treason.
Humanite asserts the petition reads
in part as follows:
1.-The ideas expressed in the petition
issued by the six economic associa-
tions contain redoubtable demands for
the conclusion of a timely, honorable
peace ard for the security of the Ger
man empire after peace is signed
Therefore, the Bund feels obliged to
oppose the demands of the association
and ask the chancellor to stop their
activities and disavow the objects OF
the war as therein set forth.
The idea of a weakening England
and Russia until they become power
less or even are -annihilated is so
childish as not to admit of serious
discussion as is shown clearly by the
lessons of history. To fight for sucn
an object which cannot be attained IS
pure madness. The Propa cation of
the madness is dangerous because it
makes difficult anything like lasting
peace
To Protect Germany.
The petition goes on to say that
Chancellor Won Bethmann HOllweg in
his speech in the reichstag on May %
said Germany would continue the war
none of ner antagonists alone or all of
them allied ever would dare attack
her again, and continues:
I'VE understand that the chancellor
felt the need at the moment Italy en-
tered the war to affirm energeticafly
our confidence liz the ultimate issue.
notwithstanding our new adversary,
bat there is great danger of his rhe-
tortca1 language being taken literally
by simple people and exploited in sup
port of the crazy allusion about which
we believe the chancellor holds the
same views we do.
''Fhat exploitation has begun. The
government of the empire has not the
right to look on with arms folded At
that abusive use of the chancellor's
discourse"
To Annex Territories
The petition next considers the
various territories, the economic as
ISOLATION desire to have annexed and
this chapter closes with this declara-
ton:
in the east and west more than
10000 square kilometerS Ga -kilo-
meter is two-thirds of a mile) with
more than 100000 inha bitants
would thus be annexed. What do the
petitioners of the six associa lions
imagine our relations would be with
these men who would have been SUI
tected to German, domination 90
The petition of the six economic as
social tons regarded as the most pow
crful of their kind in Germany de
manded
The annexation of Belgium n all
but name.
The annexation of the French coast
as far as the Somme as strategic
necessity.
The annexation of the Briey ore
region and the coal region of the de-
partments Du Nord and Pas de Calls.
The annexation of Verdun, Belfort
and the western slope of the Nosges
for strategic reasons.
The annexation of Russian territory
adjoining East Prussia for military
reasons