New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-10
Accepts Grey's Offer if
League Guarantees
Free Ocean
FORBID COALITION
FOR MAKING WAR"
Never Proposed to Annex
Belgium or Seize
French Colonies

Rsrlin. Nov. 9.-Germany is ready
/. ,Dter league of peace, but only
= condition that it insures the free
hu Of the seas from British domina-
ton.
Chancellor Won Bethmann-Hollweg
.svs defined his governments atu-
,,ds before the Main Committee of
d. Reichstag to-day. The policy
4 brute force" which Great Britain
bad clung TO through the war, the
CHANCELLOR declared, could not be
made the basis of an efficient inter
ndonal peace union.
Replies TO Yiscount Grey
Germany is at all times ready to
ssisr league Of peace which Will
narain the pertuber Of peace" he
,dded emphatically.
The greater part of the Chancel-
srs speech constituted reply to
he recent declarations Of Viscount
crey. the British Foreign Secretary,
iast the origin Of the war must in
fBence peace conditions and that
Germany, because she had forced
he war on Europe, would not be en-
titled to guarantees against future
attacks Arguing on this basis the
Chancellor entered into a long dis
russion Of the question to prove that
the burden of responsibility rested
OF Germsny's foes.
The Chancellor's statement regarding
the question Of q peace league fol-
lows:
~ at and after the end of the war
The world will only become fully con-
,eious Of the horrifying destruction
Of life and property, then through the
whole OF humanity there will ring out
cry for peaceful arrangements and
understandings which, as far as 1t is
within human power, will avoid the
return OF such a monstrous cstastro-
phe. This cry will be so powerful and
50 justified that il must lead to some
result
Liberty for All Nations
Germany will honestly cooperate H.
examination OF every endeavor TO find
practical solution and will collab-
orte for its possible realization. This
AZ the more il the war, as we expect
and trust, shall create political con-
ditions that do full justice TO the free
dsvelopment Of all nations, Of small as
well as great nations.
Then the principle Of justice and
Tree development, not only on the
Continent but also on the seas, must
Be made valid This, TO be sure, Lord
Grey did not mention"
The Chancellor pointed out that
Nseount Grey's ideas in regard to in
'ernstional guarantees Of peace seemed
70 possess peculiar character, in that
they took into consideration only
British wants. Neutrals. which during
The war had 70 accept in silence Brit
so domination Of the seas, were TO
'crm union after the war when, Eng
land hopes, she will have conquered
germany IN order to guarantee that
'se British plans will prevail under the
aev conditions
The Chancellor said IL was known
On reliable authority that in 1915
sfeat Britain and France promised TO
aussis dictatorial domination OF Con-
"sntinople, the Bosporus and the
vest shore OF the Dardanelles. with the
eintsrlsnd, and that Asia Minor should
~ divided among the Entente Powers.
Plans Kept Secret
These plans, he continued. probably
we're Of interest for neutrals, who were
expected TO guarantee this order Of
nings- The British government. he
asserted, had kept silent in regard n
asse plans in spite Of questions asked
10 Parliament
These are the plans of our enemies
ior annexation, 70 which must be ad-
eed Alsaee and Lorraine; while have
eesser designated the annexation OF
sslsium a. our intention when ] spoke
socnt the aims Of the war.
4, The frst condition for the eyolu-
u'n Of international relations by way
- ~ arbitration and peaceful compromise
- conflicting interests ought TO be
Sst no more aggressive coalitions be
a The history Of international rela-
sens before the war stands clear be-
s ths eyes Of all the world. What