The sun., 1917-03-30
Chancellor Tells Rcichstag
Germany Does Not De-
sire Conflict.
SAYS U-.BOAT WAR
MUST CONTINUE
Cites Wilson's Words Con.
demning British for H.
legal Blockade.
WARNS AMERICANS
OF RESPONSIBILITY
Declares Empire Will Be Able
to Cope With the New
Enemy.

BERLIN, by wireless. March c9.-"Ger.
many never had the slightest intsn-
ton of attacking the United States OF
America and has no such intention
now. 1t never desired war against
the United States Of America and does
not desire it to-day" was the declara-
ton made by the German Imperial
Chancellor, DR.. Won Bethmann -Holl-
veg, In a speech in the Reichstag to-
day.
The Chancellor made important
declarations concerning Gernlany's
policy toward the United States and
led up to the German use OF sub
marines in unrestricted warfare. De-
claring that Germany had undertaken
unrestricted submarine warfare for its
defence. DIR. Won Bethmann -Hollws.
said:
"If the American nation considers thia
| q cause for which to declare war agaiu0
the German nation, with which II he's
lived in peace for more than n hundreA
! years. II this actiop warrants an increnss
Of bIoodshed. we shah not have to besr
tho burden Of responsibility for It. The
German nation, which feels neither
hatred nor hostility against the United
states OF America, shall also bear and
overcome this.'
To Decide Peace or War.
The Chancellor whose speech is re-
ported by the overseas News Agency
! (the German official news bureau), said:
| within the next few days the direct
| ors OF the American nation will be con-
vened by President Wilson for an ex-
traordinary session OF Congress in order
TO decide the question of war peace
| between the American and German ma
tons.
! Germany never had the slightest in
tention of attacking the United States Of
America and has no such intention now.
, II never desired war against the United
States OF America and does not desire
/ Il to-day.
How did these things develop: More
| than once wo told the United States tina.
W made unrestricted use Of the sub
marine weapon expecting that England
| could he made 20 observe. in her policy
! Of blockade, the laws Of humanity and
International agreements
Cites wilson's Words.
This blockade policy cy--th.s expressly
recall-has been called Illegal and In
defensible fthe Imperial Chancellor here
. used the English wordsl by President
| Wilson and Secretary Of state Lansing.
! Our expectations. which We maintained
during eight months. have been dis
appointed completely ENGLAND not only
did not give up her Illegal and indefensi-
BILE policy of blockade but uninterrupted
| ly intensified II.
England. together with her allies.
arrogantly rejected the peace offers made
by us and our allies and proclaimed
her war aims, which aim at QUE an
Inhalation and that OF our allies.
"Thcn We took unrestricted submarine
warfare into our hands, thea we hnd
to for our defence
Kaiser Unhecded by CKnr.
Dealing with Russia, the Imperial
Chancellor said that the Russian En-
peror had not listened TO the German
Emperors advice against opposing any
longer the justified wishes OF his nation
for reforms.
Had Russ!a's attention been concen-
trated on internal reconstruction" said
the Chancellor, there would have been
no room for the restless policy of eX-
panson which finally led 10 this war"
Or. Won Bethmaan- Hollweg emphat-
ically denied that the German Emperor
or Germany was dosirous OF restoring
"Czardom,"
Blames DepOsed C,ar.
The Imperial Chancellor referred to
Germany's attitude toward the recent
events In Russia. and recalled the
honored friendship between the two
countries in former times. lie said, how.
ever. that this friendship had ended
with the death Of Alexander H.. that EN-
peror Nicholas had drifted more and
more into the Ententes wake and into
Pan Slavic currents. and had finally be
come a partisan OF the war party, ON.
nipotent under the Russian autocratic
regime.
Thus" said the Chancellor "iu the
fateful days OF July, 1914. the Russian
Emperor destined to listen to the ap-
. peal made by the German Emperor. One
OF the legendary reports disseminated
, with especial emphasis by our enemies
, Is that 1t was the German government
which assisted the autocratic reactlonary
policy IN Russia against all the move
ments OF liberty. One year ago ] de-
clared here In the ReichstaR that this
asseveration was directly contrary to the
facts.
: kaiaer Urged Reforms.
When Russia In 1905. by the Iapa-
! nese war and the resulting revolution.
: had been involved In distress, 1t was
( the German Emperor who. or account
. OF personal relations OF friendship. ur-
gently advised the Russian Emperor 10