The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-08
SIGNIFICANCE OF ]. CHANCE.I|.L|.OR'S l TALK {. FULLY APPREC|ATED First Time Anything Def mite Has Been Said of
 Future of Belgium RELATIONS WITH
 U. s. ARE DISCUSSED This Country Regarded as Base of AL lies-Consideration of Neutral
 Rights Urged by One
 Speaker

Berlin, April 6.-CVia London, April 70 The historical importance of Dr. Won Bethmann-Hollweg' speech, in which the imperial chancellor for the first time referred with any definiteness to the flu ture fate of Belgium and other occupied countries, and spoke guardedly of the possibility of giving up Belgium under adequate guarantees, generally was ap- preciated by his hearers and by the press in it's comment regarding yesterdays 3 session of the Reichstag.
 The newspapers are unable to follow Dr. vnn ReshpasaIi4l- F ellweg in ilis covt- sideration of the future disposition of Bel gium, owing to the prohibition against the discussion of war aims, but pr. Peter Spahn, leader of the center party, who followed the imperial chancellor, immedi- ately picked up the words of the first speaker and endeavored to expand them into declaration that Belgium, whatever it's formal status after the war may be, must remain politically, militarily and economically" in German hands.
 PROTEST BY EBERT
 For this interpretation the chancellor s words furnish no basis. Friedrich Ebert, leader of the socialists who followed pr. Spahn, protested against such interpre- tation.
 The chancellor's enunciation of a modi- fled Monroe doctrine in which he dis claimed any attention to attempt to set foot on the American continent after the war and his declaration regarding the submarine campaign also furnished texts for speeches.
 Following these orators, pr. Spahn de- voted considerable part of his dis course to consideration of American re- lations. The important passages of his speech which, owing to his indistinct manner of delivery, were utterly unin- telligible at the time and available only from the official stenographic report, read:
 "The press, people and the government of America have shown by their con duct that their sympathies and business instincts favor England and not Ger many. America has become a regular arsenal and base of supplies on large scale for our enemies. The American government has bound itself where we were concerned to the formal letter of the law and has employed regularly a more generous interpretation of the regu- lations of neutrality only in favor of. the states hostile to us. Much has been per mitted there which if done by us would have been used in America to provoKe an outbreak of hatred against us."
 SUBMARINE QUESTION Dr. Spahn referred to the prolonged associations with the United States in re- gard to the submarine question. saying in that connection:
 Americans of German descent have, indeed, endeavored to create sentiment for our view, unfortunately without sue cess. It is incomprehensible, in view of the sound business instinct of Americans, ] that the interests concerned in legitimate export trade continually bowed to British encroachments on maritime rights. The hopes placed in the American Congress in this regard have been disappointed.v
 Herr Ebert said he welcomed the enun- citation by the chancellor of more defi- nite peace programme, but declared he had no expectation of any response from the governments at London, Paris and Petrograd, although it was evident the inclination for peace was increasing among the peoples.
 Therefore, he continued, Germany must continue the war for defense of the fatherland, and the socialists, who as rep 1esentatives of the working classes would be the chief sufferers from the projected lshrottling of German trade and industry must continue to support the government resolutely.
 [ We believe sharp, defensive measures are justified against the British. who plan to throttle and starve us.9 he con tinued. '.We are fighting for our exist ence. Therefore no one can complain il we answer the British starvation plans with submarine warfare. The British gov- ernment makes ruthless use of the right of capture at sea and submarine war ia