Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-02
NO SECRET TREATY
MADE, SAYS PREMIER
Assertions Of Michaelis Regarding
Agreement Between France and
Russia Denied by Ribot.
CHARGE ANOTHER nLAKEsHIFr
Resortei To by German Chancellor 10
Cover Own Inability for Explain
ing Plausibly Hun Objects OF War
and Conditions for Pence.

PARIS. August Premier Ribot
replied In the Chamber yesterday to tho
declaration made on Saturday by DR..
Michaclls, the German Chancellor that
there was 4 secret treaty between
Franco and Russia having In view plans
OF conquest. Premier Ribot, after say
ing he was convinced that Spain would
apply the decree interninE ,he German
submarine which anchored In the har-
DOR OF Corunna Monday evening. said:
i wish to reply to the singular
speech which DR.. Michaelis thought Mt
TO invite the Berlin Journalists to hear
The German Chancellor publicly COM
manded the French government to de-
clare whether in secret sitting June 1
the French government had not made
known TO the Chamber OF Deputies the
terms Of a secret treaty made before
the Russian, revolution whereby the
Emperor bound himself to support
French pretensions to Germany terri
tory on the left bank Of the Rhine.
The Chancellor's version contains
gross inaccuracies and absolute lies
notably regarding the role he attri-
butes to the President Of the Republic
in giving an order to sign a treaty un-
known TO Premier BRAND. The cham
vi.
Doumergue (eX-Premier and Foreign
Minister). after a conversation with
the Emperor, demanded and obtained
NJ. BrianI S authorization to take note
OF the Emperor's promise to support
our claim TO Alsace-Lorraine and to
leave us free TO seek guarantees against
fresh aggression, not by annexing ter
ritores on the left bank of the RHINE
but making an autonomous state OF
these territories which would protect
US anG also Belgium against invasion.
We have never thought to do what
Bismarck did in 1871. We are there
fore entitled to deny the allegation OF
the Chancellor who evidently knows or
the letters exchanged February. 1917,
at fetrcErad and falsified since as his
most Industrious predecessor falsified
the Ems dispatch. Whenever the Rus
sian government is willing to publish
these letters we have no objection.
CHANCELLOR IS SILENT
ABOUT OTHER DECLARATION
The Chancellor refrained from
speaking about my declaration March
Fl. wherein 1 rcpudiated in Frances
maine amy policy of conquest and an
neNation by force. He has willfuily
forgotten my iarguage May % in thu
chamber. saying we were ready to enter
into conversation with Russia as to the
object of the war, and If the German
people, whose right to live and de-
velop peacefully we do not contest, UNI
derstood that we wished peace founded
on the right OF people. the conclusion
of peace would thereby be singularly
facilitated.
Finally the Chancellor passed In ST.
lence the resolution unanimously voted
after the June secret session"
Here Premier Ribot read from his
speech in the chamber warning against
those who wished TO spread the con-
riction that France was seeking con-
quest and read the terms of the resolu-
ton adopted by the chamber at that
time. declaring that peace conditions
must include the liberation of territories
occupied by Germany, the return Of
.Alsace-Lor-aine TO France and just re-
paration for damage done in the in
vaded regions. The resolutions also
favored the creation OF league of ma
lions for the maintenance of peace.
Who now dare say TO the world that
we wish anneNation?" continued Pre-
mier Ribot. Such maneuvers are too
crude to deceive any one. What is the
Chancellor seeking? He is trying to
hide the embarrassment which he feels
in defining Germany's objects of war
and conditions wherein she would
make peace. He is trying especially to
turn aside attention from the terrible
responsibility weighing on the con-
science OF the Kaiser and his coun-
cillors."