Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-05
Difficulties Are Met.

Conditions of life in Germany were
not easy, the chancellor continued, but
the difficulties were being met in ad-
mirable fashion by the entire nation,
especially the poorer classes. The crop
reports indicated, he said, that all the
winter crops were good. in fact the re-
ports had not been as favorable for
many years previously The harvest of
1915 was the worst of decades, never
theless the stocks Of grain for bread
making not only would be sufficient
but provided for a considerable reserve
with which to begin the new year
I'VE shall not run short of anything
in the future, as we have not done in
the past" he said
Sees Trade Interference.
The chancellor declared it was the
intention of Germany's enemies to
extend the war to the women and chill
dren of this nation by starving them.
and that for this purpose Great Brit
ain and her allies have interfered with
the trade of neutrals.
The American note of November s..
1915, gave an exact description of Brit
ish violations of the nations laws" he
continued, but as far ] know it
has not been answered up to this day.
No fair-minded neutral, no matter
whether he favors us or not can doubt
our right to defend ourselves against
this war of starvation, which is con-
trary to international law. No one can
ask us to permit our arms of defense
to be Wrested from our hands We use
them, and must use them. We respect
legitimate rights of neutral trade and
commerce, but we can expect that this
be appreciated and that our right way
and our duty be recognized-to use
a pSf Of
ton. which is a jeering insult not only
to all laws of nations. but also to the
plainest duties of humanity"
Discusses Polish Problem.
Chancellor Won Bethmann- Hollwes,
amid profound silence and the deep at
tention of the house, turned to the
Polish problem and to that of nation
alities in general. He said:
Neither Germany nor Austria-Hun-
gary intended to touch the Polish ques-
tion, but the fate of battles brought
them in contact with 1T. Now this
problem stands before the world and
needs to be solved. Germany and
Austria Hungary must and will solve
it, History will not admit that after
such earthquakes things will ever be-
come what they were before.
After the war there must be new
Belgium"
Formerly Poland had been left in
the hands of Russian police agent, a
man named TsZhinovnik. Even mem
bers of the Russian duma frankly ad-
mitted that Tshinovnik should not re-
TRANS and Poles have honestly labored
in the interests of this unfortunate
land.
"Mr. Asquith also mentions the prin
l. II
self in the position Of this unconquered
and unconquerable adversary can he
really suppose that Germany ever shall,
Of her own free will, deliver into the
hands of reactionary Russia the ma
tions between the Baltic and the Vol
hvnir., swa,nps. who have been freed
by her and her allies? No matter
wne,n.r they are Poles. Lithuanians
or Lavonian or of the Baltic.
Puts Blame on Allies.
The chancellor stated that If Ger
many's adversaries desired to continue
the slaughter of men and devastation
of Europe the guilt would be theirs
and that Germany would have to stand
it as men
He indicated in his speech that any
suggestions of peace on the basis of
destruction of Prussian military power
would make possible only one answer
the German sword.
"Our enemies wish to destroy united,
free Germany" the chancellor went on
'-They desire that Germany shall be
again as weak as during the past CEN
turtles, a prey of all lusts of domina-
ton of her neighbors. and the scape-
goat of Europe, beaten back forever
in the dominion of economic evolution.
even after the war. That is what our
enemies mean when they speak of
def1nitive destruction of Prussian mill