Evening star., 1916-07-29
GERMANY SCORES HER ENEMIES
IN POLITICAL REVIEW OF WAR
Says They Demand Territorial Aggrandize-
ment at Cost of Others, While Begrudging
/ Kaiser's Empire Chance to Develop.

BERLIN, July 2e-Reviewing the
political events of the second year of
the war the German foreign office has
given to the Associated Press the fol-
lowing statement:
Unlike the military situation. it is
not easy to revew briefly the develop
ments in the confused paths of po-
1itical events, but an attempt will be
made in the following statement to
trace the leading ideas connected with
the political problems of the second
year of the war.
THE world war was caused by Rus
sia's aggressive policy. supported by
Frances policy of revenge. But it
was rendered possible solely by the
fact that England subordinated to her
her other interests.
Whereas Germany's enemies regard
1T quite In order that they demand ter
ritorial acknowledgements at the cost
of others-like Russia, who wants
Gonstantinople and Galieia: like
France, who desires AlSace-Lorrafne
and the left bank of the Rhine, and
like Italy, who seeks Austrian terri
tory-they grudge Germany even that
she strive to develop herself econom-
they pronounce this an unpardonable
sin against the worlds order of
things.
Against Germany Becoming Great.
They are unwilling that Germany
should become great and strong, be-
cause the other powers want to be the
economic masters Of the world. Ter
ritorial and economic aggrandizement
has united Germanys foes in war
Of destruction against US.
The second war year whose end is
now approaching has brought these
true aims of our opponents into clearer
light In Russia this is openly admit
ted, they having an understanding with
England, and want Constantinople
their war goal. In France there is a
war-made cry for Alsace-Lorraine.
IN England, too, the mask has been
dropped. 1t is openly admitted that
Belgium was only a pretext to Justify
England's participation in the war.
which was undertaken only from self
interest.
Germany must be destroyed. Ger
many shall never more raise her head
!; economically nor militarily. In this
way is the goal of our enemy more
clearly enunciated during the second
year of the war.
Democracy Only a Catch Word.
TT is equally clear that the talk of
struggle of democracy against militar-
ism is only catch word used by our
enemies to create sentiment and to
cloak outwardly their real purpose of
destruction. Assuredly there can be no
talk of struggle for the maintenance
of democratic principles when one side
sets out to destroy the enemy complete
ly. including the civilian population.
And is England really the land of
democracy she pretends to be? Has
not the entire development of England
during the war shown that England is
drawing further than ever away from
democracy?
Moreover, If England taG really re-
sorted to war in defense of the rights
OF the smaller nations. as she fondly
announces to the world, she could
without damage to her position have
answered otherwise than with the
threat of destroying Germany.
chancellor Won Bethma mn -Ho1lweg's
remarks made in the course of the
year outlined German aims with sufh-
cient clearness. England. therefore,
wants war of destruction, a war to
the knife. which. according to the plans
of our enemies, shall continue even
after the cannon is silenced: for their
former talk about the permanent peace
that they wished to establish has been
drowned under the shout that Ger
many's enemies are raising over the
faSlS economic conference. Is not
enough that the world must be shaken
by protracted. bloody war. The world
must not even thereafter enjoy set
tied peace II the will of the entente
the economic conference do not signify
an economic peace but a permanent
economic warfare which never will
permit the world to come to rest upon
the basis OF peaceful competition.
Words Are Empty Sounds.
This shows at the same time that
the great words of the entente powers
about fighting for the rights of smaller
nations and international order are
empty sounds, for when Germany's
enemies seek to control neutral trade
they simply ignore the rights of other
Of right but upon pure might precisely
what they alleged they want to abolish.
Tho second year of the war there
fore shows that our enemies are pre-
ctsely what they all along wrongly re-
proached Germany with being, name
ly, disturbers of the peace-Russia,
through her unbrtdled passion for ex-
tending her borders; England. through
alone the economic world. and France.
through her passion for revenge.
The second year of the war further
proved that it Is our enemies who fol-
l.
They show this in the more and moro
reckless violations Of the generally
recognised principles Of international
law by the entente powers. not only in
the struggle against the central pow
ers, but still more IN their treatment Of
neutralA
The American citizen knows what
damage has been indicted on his trade
brought by the illegal blockade,
through violations Of the postal con-
ventton and other measures of Eng
land like that of blacklisting firms In
spite Of his own power he has borne
hitherto many humilfations with sur
prts!ng patience and perhaps in silent
admiration for foreign power.
Neutral States Submit.
sieeutral states, yielding to might.
had to submit to many illegal meas
ures Of the entente powers contrary
to their own interests. But It Is not
enough With the throttling Of neutral
trade. our enemies try also to place
political fetters upon neutral coun-
tries. Portugal. as England's vassal,
even permitted itself to be dragged nto
Ia at ia heD r,f .,