Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-03


Of the Central Powers was reflected
tod2y in q statement made to the
semi ohcial Overseas News Agency by
Dr.. Hammann. who until the turn of
the new year was director of the in
telligence department of the foreign
office. This comment was not based
upon the Official text of the IZntentes
note, as thus far only the version sup
piled by the Havas News Agency from
Paris has been received here, Dr.
Hammann who collaborated in the
important work Of the foreign office
last month said that consideration by
Germany and her allies Of peace Of
fer dated back as far as October All
that time the intention was entertain
ed of making an honest and sincere
attempt to prevent further useless
bloodshed.
General Impression
Being asked rs to the general i'm
preston created by the Entente reply.
he said:
IF l am to express an opinion in
few words it is this:
Instead of taking place around a
peace table the Entente's deliberations
took place on judges chair. Appar-
entity the Entente forgot nothing that
could possibly influence neutrals
against us.
The point of the accusation, how
ever, to which the largest space is
allotted in the Entente note. is the
martyrdom of Belgium But if one
desires to pass judgment on the mar
tyrdom of Belgium one must speak
beforehand regarding neutral and low
al Belgium and this Belgium had ceas-
ed to exist long before the war I do
not want to speak about the docu-
ments which we found in Brussels and
which have been published. They can
be read by anybody. I only wish to
single out one point which up to now
has not been sufficiently considered
the report made by Baron Greindl. the
Belgian minister at Berlin, dated Dec.
20, 1911.
This clearsighted statesman then ex-
planned forcibly that already at that time
the Entente was inspired by nothing but
the one thought of encircling Germany
from the north. AS proof of this Baron
Greindl quoted the outcry started in
Paris and London a short time before
when the Dutch plan to fortify Flushing
had become known. Baron Greindl then
said:
THE reason why they wished that the
concealed. In this they admitted their
lish garrison to Antwerp without him
drance, thus creating in Belgium basis
for operations in the direction of the
Lower Rhine and Westphalia.
Baron Greindl reported that the plan
was then changed in such n manner that
the English auxiliary army was not to
be landed on the Belgian coast but in the
adjoining French ports. This same plan
of an English landing in order to threaten
Germany was equally limited at as immi-
nent by Lord Roberts during the las.
Moroccan crisis. In such circumstances
it most certainly would have been an easy
thing for Belgium, after the German
question in 1914 whether Belgium would
permit the passage Of German troops)
to take her armies back to Antwerp and
then let the Germans. under protest.
march through the country.
How little such action would have VIC
lated the spirit Of existing conditions may
be understood if one recalls the secret
causes Of the treaties of 1881. In them
certain agreements from former times
were maintained which reserve, as well to
England as to Germany, the right to oc-
cunv a Belgian fortress. In 1887 a great
English newspaper-if l am not mistaken
If was the Standard-still declared that
EMPLOYMENT on the part of Germany OF
the right of way through Belgium could
not be taken as a violation of Belgian
neutrality"
Another Point
At this point the interviewer said:
In addition to this, the question Oh
the principles of the nationality plays
q large part in the answer OF the En-
tente. What importance must be at
tributed to this principle in the present
situation?
In his reply Director Hammann en-
phasized every word he said.
mo nation" declared Herr HAM
mann. SIS better able to understand
this principle than the German. for no
great civilized nation has suffered SO
much. has been forced to struggle so
greatly, because of being suppressed
and dismembered by neighboring races.
Equally no single great nation has less
to fear from the application OF this
principle of nationalities than the Ger
man. Germany would absolutely con-
sent if this principle of nationalities
were carried out in Egypt India, Mo-
rocco and Ireland. by the country in
power, not to speak of Russia's nation
alities.
"crueiiy Treated"
Germany has been cruelty treated
for centuries by her neighbors, despite
this principle of nationalities. Yet in
1866, exactly 80 years ago, that is, in
the Nikolsburg peace CLOSING the war
between Russia and Austria) a clause
was inserted upon the demand of Ma
poleon III, which left open for the
southern German states the conclusion
of a separate confederation. The lead
ing, but unavowed, idea was then to
found new Rhinebund."
Existence of Small Nations
AS to the free existence of small ma