Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-11-10
News Agency Report

The attitude of Germany in regard
20 the proposal for an international
union to enforce peace was made
known before the main committee of
the Tteichstag today by Chancellor Won
Bethmann- Hollweg. The semi official
Overseas News Agency gave out the
following account of the chancellor's
ad iress:
1.-THE chancellor made today before
the keichstag main committee a most
important speech about the questions
OF an international union for peace. and
connected, with it the problem as to
the origin OF the present war; In do
ing so the chancellor replied to the
speech made by Lord Grey British
foreign secretary, to foreign news
papers in which he said that the orig
In of the present war must influence
peace conditions and that Germany
would be entitled to ask for guaran-
tees against future attacks if war real
ly were forced upon Germany.
OF course Lord Grey at once added
that Geymany's Interpretation of the
origin oil the war was incorrect, and
that the war was not forced upon Ger
many but was forced by Germany up
on Europe.
1.-The action which made the war I'M
avoidab]e." the chancellor said, was
the Russian mobilization. ordered on
the night of July 30-31 (191H. Rus
STA, England, France, the whole world
knew that this step made it impos-
sible for US to wait any longer and
that this step was synonymous with
declaration of war;"
Russian Mobilization
The chancellor pointed out that Lord
Grey said that Russia modified it's
army after it received a report that
Germany had ordered mobilization.
The chancellor recalled that July 30.
1914, the Lokal AnZfeger issued spe-
cial edition with the untrue report that
the German Emperor had ordered mo-
bilization. The chancellor said the
sale Of the paper was prohibited and
that the secretary for foreign affairs
Informed the Russian ambassador by
telephone that this news was untrue.
The Russian Orange Book, he said.
disclosed that the Russian ambassador
had sent a CIPHER telegram to st.
Petersburg as soon as the special edi-
ton was issued ana that as soon as
the explanation was given by Secre-
tary Won Jagow this transmission was
followed by second telegram say
ing: II beg you to consider my last
telegram null and void" The incor-
rect report had been set right in st.
Petersburg before the Russian govern
sment ordered general mobilization,
the chancellor declared. Continuing, he
said:
Lord Grey, take it. will not refuse
the Russian Emperor as a witness,
and the Emperor at P. NJ on July 81.
when the order for mobilization had
a1E0Ady been issued to all Russian
forces telegraphed to the German En-
Mpernr as an answer to his last appeal
1&ersspeace: Technically impossible to
i atdf3f cur military preparations made
hGpeSsary by Austro- Hungarian mo-
sblltzation.' There was no word about
ssfA1 Iokal Anzeiger. no word about
German mobilization"
ne chancellor then recalled that the
u Russian Emperor's reference to Austro-
Hungarian mobilization could be no ex-
cuse for general Russian mobilization.
since Austria-Hungary then had mobil-
lied only eight army corps against Ser
bia to which Russia on July q already
had replied by mobilizing 10 army corps.
Only after the general Russian mobliza-
ton did Austria-Hungary. on the morning
of July 81, order a general mobilization.
AS to Germany. after the news of the
general Russian mobilization, 1t did not
mobilize at once, but at first only pro-
claimed a state of threatened danger O,
war. which was by no means mobiiiza-
ton
1.-The Hague arbitration tribunal offered
by the Russian Emperor" continued the
chancellor, mo doubt sounds very Sc
rious, but the offer was made when Rus
sian troops were already sent to move
against u.s.
international League
ternational league for the preserva-
ton of peace the chancellor said:
III at and after the end of the war
eAAO WI !" Will OIIy become July con-
scious of the horrifying destruction Of
lie and property then through the
whole of humanity there will ring out
q cry for peaceful arrangements and
understandings which as far as with
IN human power will avoid the re-
turn OF such monstrous catastrophe.
Germany will honestly cooperate
IN an every effort to find q solution
This all the more If the war as we ex-
pect and trust. shall create political
conditions that do full justice to the
4, Tree development of all nations Then
tne principal Of justice and free de-
velopment not only on the Continent
out also on the seas must be made
valued"
Consider British Wants \
The chancellor pointed out that Lord
1rey's ideas in regard to international
guarantees of peace seemed to possess
secular character that they look into
nuvhsideratton only Of British wants.
me chancellor said 1t was known on
euaole authority thai in 1915 Great
'aln and France promised to Russia