The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-12-15
Given To NGutfaIs By Beth
mann-hOllweg
Read In RGlchStag By German
Chancellor. l.
BACKED BY TEUTOA ALLIES

OoSuWcU oetS FoTtn mat Aims OF
German Allies Are Not TO shatter
Her Adversaries, but to Stop War
Which Injuries the Most Precious
Achievements Of Humanity-claim
Conflict Forced Upon Them,
Berlin, Dec. 13.-Germany, through
Chancellor Won Bethmann-Hollweg
who spoke in the reichstag, made pro
posals for peace in the great Euro
pean war. The chancellor received
the representatives of the United
States, Spain and Switzerland. which
had protested against the activities OF
Germany in hostile countries, and
transmitted a note to them and asked
them to bring it to the attention OF
hostile governments.
Following is the text of the note ad.
dressed by Germany and her allies to
the hostile governments:
"The most terrific war ever expert.
enced in history has been raging for
the last two years and half over a
large part of the worlda catastrophe
which thousands Of years of common
civilization was unable to prevent
and which Injuries the most precious
achievements of humanity.
Our aims are not to shatter nor
annihilate our adversaries In spite
Of our consciousness of our military
and economic strength and our readi.
ness to continue the war (which has
been forced upon us) until the bitter
end, II necessary; at the same time,
prompted by the desire to avoid fur.
ther atrocities Of war, the four allied
powers propose to enter forthwith in.
to peace negotiations.
"The propositions which they bring
forward for such negotiations, and
which have for their objects a guaf-
antee of the existence of the honor
and liberty of evolution for their ma.
tions are, according to their firm be-
lief, an appropriate basis for the es-
tablishment Of lasting peace.
"The four allied powers have been
Obliged to take up arms to defend
Justice and the liberty of national ey-
olution. The glorious deeds of our
armies have in no way altered their
purpose. We always maintained the
firm belief that our own rights and
justified claims in no way control the
rights of these nations.
Lines Stand Unshaken.
"The spiritual and material prog.
ress which were the pride Of Europe
at the beginning of the twentieth cen
tury are threatened with ruin. Ger
many and her allies, Austria Hun
gary, BULGARIA. and Turkey, gave
proof OF their uncomfortable gigantic
advantages over adversaries superior
in numbers and war material Our
lines stand unshaken against ever re-
peated attempts made by armies.
"The last attack in the Balkans has
been RAPIDLY and victoriously over
come. The most recent events have
demonstrated that further continu.
ance of the war WIN not result in
breaking the resistance Of our forces,
and the whole situation with regard
to our troops justifies our expectation
OF fuftner successes.
"If in spite Of this offer Of peace
and reconciliation the struggle should
go on, the four allied powers are re-
solved to continue to a victorious end,
but they disclaim responsibility for
this before humanity and history. The
imperial government. through the
good Offices Of your excellency, asks
the government of (here is inserted
the name Of the neutral power ad
dressed in each instance) to bring
this communication to the knowledge
of the government"
The ehancellor's speech in tlc
reichstag was listened to by thronged
galleries The royal box was crowded
All the Ambassadors and ministers OF
foreign governments were in the dip
lomatic box.
The American charge d'affairs, 10
seph G. Grew and Mrs. Grew were
among those present, as were the
ministers OF Argentina. Brazil and
South America. as
The reichstag adjourned to be re
convened at the call OF the president
Prior to the adjournment the presi
dent of the chamber declared that the
nation and its representatives would
always support the chancellor in 3
policy which was far-signted and in
telligent. a-,f