The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-05-19

one u tu0 most vigorous and plain
spoken speeches he has made before
the rsichStag since the outbreak of
( the war. imperial German chan
oellor today bluntly refused to enter
Into = discussion of Germany's peace
terms a. demanded In interpretations
pysthe Conservatives and Socialists.
pr. Won Bethmann-H Hollweg asserted
ehAt these called for the governments
ppScihc peace programme. the an
8 nouncement of which would at the
4 present time not only be premature
but difIacult to- formulate and of no
practical service to the nation In the
present situation.
5 The chancellor plainly declared ne
: would not permit himself to be sway
ed by pressure from any source and
that he was not under the spell of any
y Barty or clique. The best interests
'of the nation. he believed. demanded
that the reticence he had imposed on
himseif In the face Of continuous
csamor since December. 1915. should
- observed until the moment was
ripe. He was sure such q course
would be endorsed by the nation at
hrre. which continued to rally
around its emperor and would also
Z mtot the views of the majority of the
members OF the reichstag.
The chancellor biehy reviewed the
present military situation and Ger
msny's relations to the neutrals, In
4 tbe course OF which he warmly prais.
- the attitude adopted by Spain.
These interpe llations demand from
me . definite statement on the oues-
tion Of our war aims" said the chan
csnor. "To make such a statement at
the present moment would not serve
the country's interests; 1 must, there.
tore. decline to make II.
= Since the wini:er Of 1914-15 I have
besn pressed. now from one side. now
from the other. publicly to state DUR
war aims. IL possible with details.
Every day they were demanded from
me. TO force me to speak an attempt
was made to construe my silence re-
9sIallS the programme Of the war
aiy Asof individual parties az agree
ment. Assinst that must again res
olYtsly protest.
"On giving liberty for the free dis
cesgtou Of war airas had 1t expressly
declared that the government could
not and would not participate in the
conflict OF views. also protested
AGAINST any positive conclusions what.
ever regarding the governments atti-
tuds being drawn from the govern
mencs silence.
II now repeat this protest In the
neat conclusive form. What I was
ever able to say about our war aims
, say here In the reichstag publicly
They were general principles.-they
could not be more--but they were
eleAr enough to exclude Identification
such as was attempted with other pro
remmes. These fundamental lines
nave been adhered to up to today
Ihey found further solemn expression
n tho peace OFFER made conjointly
With our allies on December 12. 1916.
The supposition which has recent
" arisen that some differences OF
eplnion existed on the peace question
oeeween us and our allies belongs to
the realm of, fable. expressly affirm
this now with certainty, Z am at the
ame time also expressing the convic-
mon that the leading statesmen OF the
bowers which are our allies arc
with us
II thoroughly and fully understand
The passionate interest OF the people
tn the war aims and peace conditions
understand the call for clearness
which today Is addressed to me from
the right and the left. But In the dis
cuaeion or our war aims the only
Gutding line for is the early and
satisfactory conclusion OF the war.
Beyond that I can not do or say any
Ting.
III the general situation forces me
!" Eeserve. as Is tho case now. 1 shall
Ee>p this reserve, and no pressure
either from Herr scheidemann or Herr
hoesicke will force me from my path
J shall not allow myself to be led
Svsy by utterances with which
seeeidsmapn. at q time when drum
"Fe sounds on the Aisne and at Arras
"euevsd he could spread among the
peeps the possibility of revolution.