Evening journal., 1916-12-14
HObbNEG A STEADY
SEEKER OF PEACE
German Chancellor s
Speeches Have Endangered
Ills Official Position
IS AGAINST THE
ANNEXATION IDEA

Theobald Won Bethmann-Hollweg
the German Chancellor, ia addressing
the Re,chstag has on several occs-
sions in the past two years mentioned
the poss. bilities OF peace. His determ-
nation that Germany should be ready
to end the war at the earliest mOment
consistent with the nations interprc-
tatiOn Of victory together with his
q scoura cement OF extreme U-boat
depredations have at times endanger-
ID bis popularity and even his official
position.
His first notable utterance on the
subject OF peace was addressed TO
The Reichstag ON December 9, 1919,
as a reply to the nsistence of Herr
Scheidemann. the Socialist spokes-
man. that this was mot war of con-
Guest and that the first decisive step
toward ending the war should enla-
nate from Germany In his reply
lhe Chancellor said
For the German Government this
war has remained what 1t was in the
beginning: namely. a defensive war
of the German nation and it's future.
The war can only be terminated with
peace which according to human
Judgment offers us security against
its repetition.
'As a matter Of fact none OF our
enemies has approached us with
peace proposals, and indeed lhey be-
lieved It to be to their interest falsely
TO attr butte peace proposals to US.
This is due to their unparalleled sell
deception. which we would have sun
further aggravated if peace proposal
came from our side instead OF theirs
First Requ ste.
III I am TO speak OF peace condi-
tions I must first see the peace con-
ditions of our enemies
There is no record. however, tha
the Entente Allies have ever submit
ted such condit ons. Nor unit
Yesterday were conditions publiciJ
stated by Germany
A few DAYS after the delivery Of the
speech quoted above the semi-official
Wolff Bureau circulated through Ger
many what purported to be a draft OF
the terms upon which the Central
Powers were willing TO call off their
armies. II was disavowed as an OIL
cial statement.
These alleged terms were. Restora-
tior of Belgium under certain condi-
ticns: no annexation Of French terri
tory. establishment of Poland as an
independent kingdom under German
prince: payment of an indemnity IN
tho form Of transfer 70 Germany Of
Russias debt to France. S3'6o0.ooo;
payment to Germany by Belgium OF
about S2o0000oO 2 year; similar
contribution from Russia or Poland.
Whether the Belgian territory would
Do reelored eQtirely was no. specified.
These reputed conditions we're ridi-
culcd in the capitals OF the Entente
nations
A month later. in January Of this
wear. the German Chancellor was
quoted rs saving that there had been
no Official peace oyertures or nego-
tfatlons, but that there had been un-
official conversations in Switzerland
and sweden He also was represent
cd as saying that England was keep
ing her allies from enter.p~ into a
peace movement
Further OYertureS Futile.
Early in June. the Chancellor de
clared in the Reichstag that as two
peace suggestions had been ignored
by the Entente Allies it would be
futile and evil for Germany to make
further overtures. He said
we did what we could TO pave the
way to peace. but our enemies re-
Delled us with scorn. Some states
men, in England and elsewhere. have
made attempts to feel the pulse Of
our people, and while making con
trasts between our different States as
political units have tried to console
themselves into the belief that our
striking force was near the breaking
point These gentlemen are indulg-
ing in stranTa notions"
In an interview on May % he sad
II have twice publicly stated thas
D. -.-... nd a. no.