Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-03
NOT ABOUT PEACE TABLE,
BUT UPON JUDGES CHAIR
There Is Where Entente's Reply Was
Formulated, According to Ger.
man Statesman.
REFLECTS COUNTRY'S VIEWS
DR.. Hammann Dismisses "Aiartyrrlom
OF Belgium" With Accusation That
Belgium, Before War. Had Ceased
to BE Loyal and Neutral.
REFLECTS coUNTRY's VIEWS
BN A Associated I,rnss

BY Associated Ircssl
BERLIN. January (ria Sayrillc).-
Tho German impressio OF the cntente's
reply To tho peace proposals of the
central powers was reflected to-day in
a statement made IL the scmioiiiclal
overseas News Agency by Dr. Ham
mann. until recently director of the
Intelligence Department of the For
cign Office.
This comment was not based on the
Official text OF the entente note. az thus
far only tho version supplied by the
liavas News Agency from Paris has
been received Hcre
Or. lIammann said that consideration
by Germany and her allies of peace
offer dated back as far as October At
that time tho intention was entertained
Of making an homes, and sincere at
tempt 70 prevent further useless blood
shed. Being asked as TO tho general
impression created by tho entente reply
h. said:
II | am TO express an opinion in
few words. IL is this: Instead OF taking
place around tho peace table. the en-
tcnte's deliberations took place on a
judges chair. Apparently the entente
forgot nothing that could possibly in
huencc ncutrals against US
Tho point OF tho accusation, how
ever. 70 which the largest space Is
allotted in tho entente note is the
martyrdom OF Belg ium But il one
desires 10 pass Judgment on the
'nartyrdom OF Beleium.' one must
speak beforehand regarding neutral
and loyal Belgium. and this Belgium
had ceased to exist long before the
war | do not want 10 speak about
the documents which found in
Brussels and which have been published
They can bc read by everybody. | only
wish to single out one point. which up
To now has not been sufficiently con-
sidered--the report mad" by Baron
tireindl. Belgian minister at Berlin.
dated December %. 1911.
HOPED TO ENCIRCLE
GERMANY FROM NORTH
This clcar-sightcd statesman then
explained forcibly tina, already at that
time the entente was ispired by moth
ing but the ono thought Of encirclinG
Germany from the north. As proof OF
this. Baron Grcindl quoted the outcry
started in Paris and London short
time before, when the Dutch plan TO
fortify Flushing had become known.
Baron Greindl then said:
THE reason why they wished that
the Scheldt remain without defense
was not concealed In this they ad-
mittcd their purpose To be able TO
transport an English garrison to Ant
werp without hindrance. 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 man
ner 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
vas equally hinted at as imminent by
Lord Roberts during the last Moroccan
crisis. In such circumstances, 1t most
certainly would have been an easy
thing for Belgium. after the German
question in 1914 (whethcr Belgium
would permit the passage of German
troops) TO take her armies back TO Ant
werp and then let the Germans, under
protest. march through the country"
no CIVILIZED NATION
HAS SUFFERED SO MUCH
Questioned as to the Importance of
the principle OF nationality in the pres
ent situation, DR.. Hammann said:
NO nation is better able to under
stand this principle than the Ger
man, for no great civilized nation has
suffered so much, has been forced to
struggle so greatly. because of being
suppressed and dsmembered by neigh
boring races. Equally, no single great
nation has less to fear from the ap
plication of this principle OF nationals
ties than the German Germany would
absolutely consent IL this principle OF
ma tionalities were carried out in Egypt,
India. Morocco. Ireland. by the coun
try in power not to speak of Russia's
nationalities.
Germany has been brutally treated
for centuries by her neighbors. despite
this principle of nationalties. Yet in
1866. exactly fifty years ago-that is,
in the Nikolsburg peace tclosing the
war between Prussia and Australia
clause was inserted upon the demand
of Napoleon Ill, which left open for
the Southern German states the con-
clusion of a separate confederation.
The leading. but unavowed, idea was
then to nnd new Rhinebund."
As 10 the free access OF small ma
tions. Mr.. Hammann said:
This idea too. has found a very
strange illustration during the war.
Only a few weeks have elapsed since
q leading English minister termed .he
misfortune OF the Roumanians plainly
n gross blunder.' by this blunder' 9
whole nation had been dragged into
Continued ON Third Pnge)
Il