Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-30
BERLIN'S VIEW OF
SECOND YEAR OF WAR
Foreign Office Says Conspir-
acy Of Aggression and Re-
venge Will Fail.
FIGHT is FOR LIBERTY

Berlin, July 29.-Reviewing the po-
litical events of the second year OF
the war, the German Foreign office
has given to the Associated Press
the following statement:
Unlike the military situation, it is
not easy to review briefly the devel-
opments in the confused paths Of po-
litical 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 its
economic antagonism to Germany all
its other interests.
Whereas Germany's enemies re-
gard it quite in order that they de-
mand territorial aggrandizements at
the cost OF others-like Russia, who
wants Constantinople and Galieia
like France, who desires Alsaee-Lor-
raine and the left bank Of the Rhine,
and like Italy, who seeks Austrian
territory--they grudge Germany even
that it strive to develop itself eco
nomically in peaceable competition,
and they pronounce this an unpardon-
able sin against the worlds order Of
things.
Would Destroy Germany
They are unwilling that Germany
should become great and strong, be-
cause the other powers want to be
the economic masters Of the world.
Territorial and economic aggrandize-
ment has united Germany's foes in a
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
admitted, they having an understand
ing with England, and want Constan-
tinople as their war goal. In France
there is a war-mad cry for Alsace-
Lorraine.
an England, too, the mask has
been dropped. II is openly admitted
that Belgium was only 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 its head
economically nor militarily. In this
way is the goal of our enemy more
clearly enunciated during the second
year Of the war.
ut is equally clear that the talk
of a struggle Of democracy against
militarism is only catchword. 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 ont to
destroy the enemy completely, in
cluding the civilian population.
England Not Democratic.
"And is England really the land of
demoeratcy it pretends to bel Has
not the entire development OF Eng
land during the war shown that Eng
land is drawing further than ever
away from democracy
Moreover if England had really
resorted to war in defense Of the
rights OF the smaller nations, as it
fondly announces to the world, it
could without damage to its position
nave answered otherwise than with
the threat Of destroying Germany.
Chancellor Won Bethmann's re-
marks, made in the course of the year,
outlined German aims with sufficient
clearness. England, therefore, wants
a 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 Germanys enemies are raising
over the Paris economic conference.
ut is not enough that the world
must be shaken by a protracted
bloody war. The world must not
even thereafter enjoy a settled peace
il the will of the entente powers pre-
walls, for the decisions OF the eco
nomic conference do not signify an
economic peace, but 4 permanent
economic warfare which never will
permit the world to come to rest upon
the basis of peaceful competition.
Rights Of Smaller Nations.
This shows at the same time that
the great words OF the entente powers
about fighting for the rights of small
er nations and international order are
empty sounds, for when Germany's
enemies seek to control neutral trade
they simply ignore the rights Of other
countries and base not on the princi-
Piles of right, but upon pure might. |
precisely what they alleged they want |
TO abolish.
The second year OF the war there
fore shows that our enemies are pre-
cisely what they all along wrongly |
reproached Germany with being; |
namely, disturbers Of the peaee-Rus-
sia. through its unbridled passion for |
extending its borders. England. |
through uncomfortable desire for
dominating alone the economic world, |
and France, through its passion for
revenge.
The second year Of the war
further proved that it is our enemies
who follow the principle Of might
before right. They show this In the
more and more reckless violations OF
generally recognized principles Of
law by the entente pow
ers, not only in the struggle against
the central powers, but still more in
their treatment of neutrals.
Ao,.r;e,o Tr,ds nov,w.H