The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-13

enemies now ascribed to US plan to
conquer the whole world, ana tuen
desperate cries of anguish for peace
But nor confused by these asserVa
tions we progressed always ready "
defend ourselves and fight for our ma
tion's existence, for its free future anu
always ready for this price 10 Stretcn
out our hand for peace.
,"Our strength has not made our ears
deaf TO our responsibility before Co..
before our own nation and before hui
manity. The declarations formerly
made by US concerning our reaolness
for peace were evaded by our adFer,
saries. Now we haYe advanced one
step further in this direction.
Ordered To Mobilize
ION ugust l. 1914. the Emperor had
personally to take the greatest oecls'
! ion which ever fell to the lot or a
German-the order for mobilization,
which he was compelled to give as
result of the Russian mobilization.
During these long and earnest years
of the war the Emperor has been NOV
ed by a single thought; how peace
could be restored to safeguard Ter
many after the struggle In which sne
has fought victoriously.
Nobody can testify better to this
than l who bear the responsibility 1or
all actions of the government. In a
deep moral and religious sense of duty
towards his nation and, beyond IL
towards humanity, the Emperor now
considers that the moment has come
for official action towards peace.
His Majesty therefore, in complete
harmony and In common with our al
lies, decided TO propose to the hostile
powers to enter into peace negot1a'
tious. This morning l transmitted a
not to this effect to all the hostile
powers, through the representatives
of those powers which are watching
over our interests sad rights IN the
hostile states. | asked the represen;
tatiyes of Spain, the United States and
Switzerland to forward that note.
! THE same procedure has been
adopted today in Vienna, Constants.
nonle and Sofia. Other neutral states
and His Holiness, the Pope. have been
similarly informed"
Await Answer.
After reading the note, the Chan
cellor said: ,o,.
enemies challegened the superiority
of power in the world war. Today
we raise the question of peace. which
is a question of humanity. We await
the answer, of our enemies with the
soreness of mind which is guaranteed
10 US by our exterior and interior
strength and by our clear conscience
II our enemies decline to end the war
Tif they wish to take upon themselves
the worlds heavy burden of all these
terrors which hereafter will follow,
then even in the least and smallest
homes every German heart Will burn
in sacred wrath against our enemies
who are unwilling to stop human
,, slaughter, in order that their plans of
conquest aid annihiliation may con-
tinue.
In a fateful hour we took a fatefu
decision. God will be the judge: we
can proceed upon our way ~lthou'
fear and unashamed. We are. ready
for fighting and we are ready 1o1
peace"
! Joseph c. Grew and Mrs. Grew were
among those present. as were tne
ministers of Argentina. Brazil, Chlle
! and the other states OF Central anu
! South America.
The Reichstag building was sur
! rounded by great crowd and the au
1OlnlnS streets were lhtOu6cu- an
people were intensely interested and
! the Imperial Chancellor. on his arrival
was cordially greeted.
At the conclusion Of his address
ma jority of the house applauded and
the galleries joined in the handicap
ping.
The Reichstag adjourned to be re
convened at the call Of the President
Text Of Note to Enemies.
BERLIN, Dec. 12.-Following is the
| text of the note addressed by Ger
! many and her allies to the hostile
/! governments:
"The most terrific war ever exper
| (conttnusd ON rHgs Ten)