South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-30
WAR NOT SOUGHT
SAYS CHANCELLOR
If Break Comes 1t will be
Caused by United States
Declares Official.

BERLIN Cby wireless to sayviIIe).
March 3O.-"Germany never had the
slightest intention OF attacking the
United States OF America and does
not have such intention now. II
never desired war against the Unit
ed States Of America and does not
desire II today was the declaration
made BY the German imperial chan
cellor. DR.. Won Bethmanu-H olIweg.
In speech in the reichstag Thurs
day. The chancellor made important
declarations concerning Germany's
policy toward the United States and
Russia.
How did these things develop ,"
asked the chancellor in speaking of
the relations with the United States.
He then proceeded TO answer the
question by reviewing the causes
which led Up 20 the German use Of
submarines I'm unrestricted warfare
Declaring that Germany had I'M
dertaken unrestricted submarine
warfare for It's defense, DR.. Won
Bethmann-H ollweg said:
Not Responsible.
IF the American nation considers
this a cause for which 10 declare
war against the German nation
with which il has lived in peace
for more than one hundred years.
If this action warrants an increase
OF bioodshed. we shall not have to
bear the burden Of responsibility for
it,"
Concerning German relations with
the United States. the chancellor,
whose speech is reported by the
Overseas News agency Cthe German
official news bureau said:
within the next few days the
directors Of the American nation will
be convened by Pres't Wilson for an
extraordinary session of congress in
order 70 decide the question Of war
or peace between the American and
German nations.
Germany never had the slightest
intention of attacking the United
States OF America and does not have
such intentions now. IL never desir-
ed war against the United States OF
America and does not desire il to-
day
How did these things develop?
More than once we told the United
States that we made unrestricted use
of the submarine weapon expecting
that England could be made TO OBJ
serve i'm her policy OF her blockade,
the laws of humanity and interna-
tioual agreements This blockade
policy-this I expressly recall-has
been called illegal and indefensi-
Ale' tthe imperial chancellor here
used the English words) by Pres't
Wilson and Sec'y Of State Lansing.
our expectations. which we main
tanned during eight months. have
been disappointed completely: Eng
land not only uninterruptedly inten-
sided IT, England together with her
allies arrogantly rejected the peace
offers made by us and our allies
and proclaimed her war aims which
aim at cur humiliation and that
Of our allies
Defensive Action.
Then we took unrestricted use Of
submarines into our hands: we had
To for our defense. If the American
nation considers this a cause for
which TO declare war against the
German nation with which il has
lived i'm peace for more than one
hundred years, if this action war
rants an increase Of boodshed we
shall not have 10 bear the respon-
sibility for it. The German nation.
which feels neither hatred nor hos
uity against the United States OF
America. shall also bear and over
come this"
Dealing with Russia. the imper-
iaI chancellor said that the Russian
emperCT had not listened 10 the
German emperor's advice no longer
10 oppose the justified wishes of his
nation for reforms
Had Russia's attention been con-
centrated on internal construction"
said the chancellor, there would
have been no room for the restless
policy OF expansion which finally led
10 this war"
DR. Won Bethmann-Hollweg en-
phatically denied that the German
emperor OF Germany was DESTROYS
Of restoring Garden"