Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-02
RUSSIA SEEKING OPPORTUSITY
FOR INTERNAL RECONSTRUCTION
fBy Associated Preps.l

hOsSIA SEEKING OPPORTC SITN
FOR INTERNAL RECONSTRUCTION
,fBy Associated Preps.l
AMSTERDAM. December l.-During
yesterdays sitting OF the Reichstag
main committee. DR.. won kuehlmann
made Il speech. in which he said:
Our eyes at the present moment are
turned toward the east. Russia has
set the world ablaze. The gang of
bureaucrats and sycophants. rotten to
the core, overrulIng the weak and mis-
guided. though probably wcll-meanin2.
autocrats. surrertitiously brought about
the mobilization OF that country. which
was the actual and immediate cause Of
the gigantic catastrophe which befell
the world.
Now, however she has swept aside
the culprits. and she Is tailoring to find.
through an armisticc and pence. an
opportunity for her internal recon
struction. need not supplement the
clear words in which the Chancellor
yesterday stated the attitude of the
German government toward these aims
Here again our policy Will adhere to
the principle of firm. but moderate.
craftsmanship based upon facts. The
principles hereto announced to the
world by the present rulers In Pctro-
grad appear entirely acceptable as q
basis for reorganization of affairs in
1he east "a reorganization which.
while fully taking into account the
right OF nations to determine their
own destines. IL calculated perma-
nently to safeguard the essential in
terests Of the great neiGhbor!ng ma
tions. Germany and Russia.
Il am profoundly satisfied that we
\ shall be able to pursue this course in
full agreement with our allies. and l
Wake It also with the almost unani-
nous moral support OF the representa-
tives OF the German people here as
sembled-a fact which will give our
ID action necessary weight"
NOT WITHHOLD SYMPATHY
FROM ITALIAN PEOPLE
After referring TO the Tcuton VIC
tory and to the bitterness caused in
Germany by ltaly's entrance into the
war. DR.. Won Kuehlmann said:
Nevertheless. there be some who in
this hour OF utter collapse will not
withhold sympathy from the Italian
4 people"
The effect Of Germany's IN Iii tary suc-
cesses, the Foreign Secretary said, was
noticeable Also in England and Franco.
I'm Germany" the speaker said. 1.-The
great words spoken by the Emperor at
Il the outset OF the war have developed
relations between the people and the
crown which have been rendered freer
and more active and, therefore,
stronger. In Germany the government
is carrying out the program laid down
by the Chancellor yesterday. not Civ
ing way under party pressure, but
rather proceeding with clear perception
Of historical necessity. The develop
mcnt has been actually opposite that
Of England and France. where free
dom of thought and freedom OF
speech have been suppressed. In
these countries. which had been demo- :
racies. things are tending more and
more toward absolute dictatorship.
I'm France, Clemcnceau has been
called to power as the last card in the
game. At the same time that in Ger
many the Chancellor is making the
government program matter OF de-
tailed discussion with the various
parties, in France the newspapers de-
voted to Premier Clemcnceau are prais-
ing him for having constituted his
Cabinet entirely without consulting
Parliament. one Of the first functions
= Of the government and the ruthless
nounced.
"In England the development took
place some time ago. The party for
war TO the end brought Lloyd George
| to the fore. He was invested with
| powers under which, jisregarding the
provisions SO dear to the British Con-
d stitution, he was made a de facto die
tator."
The Foreign Secretary said Lloyd
George probably had not quite come
up to the expectations OF his friends,
but inasmuch as there seemed to be
no one to surpass him in the deter
1 mination to carry on the war, unless
Lord Northclffe should DO rcsorted to,
I'VE may probably for some time to
come see the western democracies un-
/ der the leadership of their dictators,
discussing in full harmony questions
regarding the allied forces"
Contending British statesmen were
ignorant Of Germany, DR.. Won Kuehl-
! mann said. Lord Robert Cecil had
/ pinned down the British government to
the story Of utilization by the Germans
! OF the bodies of the dead, and had de-
cIared the reported plan to institute
polygamy in Germany was char
acteristic of German Views and institu-
y tons
The Foreign Secretary declared it
/ had been said Germany had shown
great reserve because she had q fraudu-
/ lent design, and that once German
! astuteness had succeeded in bringing
! together her adversaries at the confer
ence table, she would como out with
\ impossible claims reckoning that the
4 people, being tired of war and prepared
4 for far-reaching sacrifices. would not
give their statesmen the support neces-
sary to refute German demands. On
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
- TO