Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-12-14
FULL TEXT OF PFACE
OFFER IN WILSON'S HANDS

Brands speech were received coldly
by the chamber. which, however.
warmed to the speaker as he proceed
ed. There was marked applause
when the premier reerred to Chan
cellor Won Bethmann-H -Hollweg's peace
proposal as a trap and warned the
country not to be deceived. The an
nouncement that the government pro-
posed to restrict the liquor traffic was
also received with much approval.
Premier BRAND accompanied his
denunciation OF the German peace Of
fer as trap with an announcement
that he would ask for the increased
power with which to carry on the
war. At the same time the premier
promised that the government would
not undertake any scheme of national
mobilization such as that involved in
the German home army plan.
Hope to Intensity War
Premier BRAND expressed that GER
talnty that some of the measures
taken by Germany have behind them
the object of intensifying the war next
Spring when. he said, she will have
stronger armies to face. He warned
France to be prepared for this effort
and to have confidence in the final
outcome. Then he turned to a discus
sion of the German peace proposals.
1t is after having proclaimed its
victory" he said. while at the same
that Germany sends us certain words
which / am not unable to explain.
You have read the address delivered
by Won Bethmann-Hollweg. the cham
cellor of the German empire. l have
not the text and therefore l cannot
give an official opinion, but it is i'm
probable that in the present circum-
stances those who are asked to inter-
vene will accept a task which might
well disturb confidence here. 1 will
make known officially the precise con-
certed opinion of the allies, but I
must now warn my country against
a possible poisoning OF opinion. When
country armed TO the teeth mobilizes
its entire civil population at the risk
of running its commerce and disor-
ganizing the homes of which it Is so
proud, when its factories are working
overtime to increase its war materials
and when Ii takes in disregard of the
law or nations, the people OF an in
vaded country and obliges them TO
work for it. If at that moment I do
not cry out TO my country: Look out;
take care; I would be entirely culpe-
BILE. What comes from yonder as
proposition to negotiate peace is made
at time when Belgium is invaded.
Serbia is invaded, ten departments OF
France are invaded" Deputy Andre
Lefevre here interrupted saying: And
crimes unpublished" Premier BRAND
resumed:
Denounces Gross Trap
1T is a redoubtable moment and !
cannot call your attention too much
to the facts. What do we see in this
address? It is the same cry to de-
ceive neutrals or the clairvoyance of
the German people-it was not we
who desired this horrible war. II was
imposed or us. l want to answer for
the hundred time. No you were the
agsressors and whatever you say the
facts are there to prove it. The blood
is on your heads and not on ours
Now. coming to the bottom of
things, | have the right to ednounce
this maneuver. this gross trap. we
want, 1t is said, by our enemies. TO
give our people ali the means TO pros
per that they can desire. Others are
offered as almost a consent not TO an
nihilate them. After the Marne, after
Nerdun, France, France resting firmly
is offered this. Such document must
be thoroughly mediated upon to see
toward what objects it tends"
There was loud applause at these
words and Deputy Thierry-Cazes
shouted: The country thinks as you
do" Premier BRAND then concluded:
From this rostrum 1 must say that
there is a maneuver TO separate the al
lies, disturb the conscience and demor-
alize the people OF the French repub-
lie. In circumstances such as these
one will not do less than the con-
vention."