The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-03-30
Bethmann-Hoi Asserts
His Country Has Sought
to Avoid HostiitieS
STILL FIRM FOR
U-BOAT WARFARE
Bravado. However, Is Lacking from His
Latest Speech Before Reichstag -
Cuotes Words from President Wilson
and Secretary Lansing.

BERLIN, March 80, by wireless to
Savville.-'' Germany never had the
slightest intention of attacking the
United States of America and does not
have such intention now. 1t never de-
sired wal against the United states
Of America and does not desire Ii to
day,'' was the declaration MADE 10y the
German imperial chancellor. DR.. Won
Bcthmann IIollweg, in speech in the
lrciehStag yesterday.
The chancellor made important dec
| larations concerning Gcrmany's policy
toward the United states and Russia.
GLOW did these things Develop
laskcd the chancellor in speaking Of
| the relation with the United States.
| fIc then proceeded to answer the ques-
tion by reviewing the causes which led
lup to the German use of the submarines
4 in unrestricted warfare.
/ Declaring that Germany had under
/ taken unrestricted submarine warfare
tor its defense, Dr. Won Bethmann Holl-
veg Said:-
! "If the American nation considers
this cause for which to declare wan
+ against the German nation with which
/ il has lived in peace for more than
/ 100 wears, if this action warrants an in.
crease of bloudShod we shall not have
4 to bear the burden or responsibility
for it.
Concerning German relations with
the United States. the chancellor, whose
speech is reported by the Overseas
News agency (the German official new,
bureau. Said:-
'Within the next few days the Iii
rrctors Of the American nation vii
hc convened by President Wilson fol
au extraordinary session of congress il
order % decide the question Of war oI
peace between the American and Ger
man nations.
Germany never had the sli2htcs
intention Of attacking the United State
Cf America and does not have such in
trntion now. 1t never desired Wa
against the United Stetcs Of Amcric;
and does not desire it today.
How did these things develop
More than once we told the Unite
states that we made unrestricted as
Of the submarine weapon cypectn;
that England could Ice made TO observe
ia her policy of blockade. the laws o
humanity and international agreement
This blockade poliry-thiS ] cXpreSsl.
recall been called illegal and in
drfcnsihlc (the imperial chancello
here used the English words ~ Presi
ldcnt Wilson and Secretary of Stat
Lansing. Our expectations, which W
maintained during eight months, hav
been disappointed completely; Englan
not only did not give up her illeg;,
and indefcnsiblc policy OF blockade
but uninterruptedly intensified it. Eng
r land together with her allies arrogantl
rejected the peace offers made by u
and our allies aud proclaimed her wa
aims, which aim az our annihilatiol
and that OF our allies.
"Thcn we took unrestricted subma
zine warfare into our hands when W
had to for our defense
''if the American nation consider
this cause for which TO declare wa
against the German nation, with wlic
it has lived in peace for more tia
i 100 years. if this action warrants a
2 increase Of hloodshed, we shall no
4 have TO bear the responsibility for i
: The German nation which feels neithe
: hatred nor hostility against the Unite
States OF America shall also bear an
overcome this.