Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-03-02
ACCUSESU.S.0F
IMPROPER ACT
German Chancellor Denies
Propriety of Breaking
Off Relations

Berlin, Feb 27.-(By wireless to
yville)-Chancellor Won Bethmann-
Hollweg's address to the reichstag,
postponed from last week, was dei1v-
cred today. The chancellor said:
While our soldiers on the front
stand in the drumflre of the trenches
and our submarines, defying death,
hasten through the seas; while we at
home have no other, absolutely no oth-
er task but to produce cannon, ammu-
milton and food, and to distribute
victuals with Justice; in the midst OF
this struggle for life and for the NJ
ture of our empire, intensified to the
extreme, there is only one necessity
of the day which dominates all que1-
lions of policy. both foreign and DO
mestic-to fight and gain victory.
The chancellor pointed out that the
German nation In the refchstags last
vote granting new war credits. demon-
strated to the world its readiness to
continue the struggle, until It's enc
mics were ready for peace.
As to this peace itself, the chanceF
lor recalled discussions in the news.
papers, in public meetings and also ~
parliament. He declared that 1t would
be premature II he participated In
these debates. He continued:
ITO terminate the war by lasting
peace which will grant us reparatioD
for all wrongs suffered and guarantees
the existence and future of strong
Germany-that is our aim-nothtnd
less and nothing more"
After dealing with the problem o.
domestic policy the chancellor spohe
of the peace proposals OF Germany
and her allies to their enemies. He
continued:
Their answer was more rude ana
more presumptuous than any sensible
person in our country or in, neutral
countries could have imagined. The
effect produced by this document Of
barbarian hatred and of insolence II
manifest to the whole world. Our a.
liances and our front stand the flrmef
and the German nation is more united
and no less resolute than ever"
The chancellor then turned TO tho
esta blishment Of the barred zones
around England, France and Italy and
to the answers received from neutrals
to the communication made by the
central powers. He said:
eve by no means underestimate tho
difficulties caused to neutral shippin&
and we therefore try to alleviate them
as much as possible. For this purpose
we made an attempt to supply raw MAJ
terials such as coal and iron. needed b.
them. to neutral states within the b0ulh
daries Of our sea forces But we also
know that all these difficulties. after
all, are caused only by England's
tyranny Of the seas
"One step farther than taken BY
European neutrals has been made -
as is known - by the United States OF
America. President Wilson, after re-
ceiving our note of January 81,
brusuuely broke OF relations with us.
No authentic communication about the
reasons which were given for his steps
reached me. The former United States
ambassador here in Berlin commune
Gated only in spoken words to tho state
secretary of the foreign ONCE OF break.
ing of relations, and asked for hi4
passports. This form Of breaking on
relations between great nations living
In peace is probably without precedent
in history.
"All official documents being lAc1P
ing, l am forced to rely upon doubtful
sources that is upon tho outo1
(Reuter) Offices version of the con.
tents of the message sent by Presidens
Wilson on February to congress. "a
this version the president is reported
to have said that our note OF January
81 suddenly and without previous IN
dlcation Intentionally withdrew tie
solemn promises made in the note OF
May, 1916. To the United States gov
eminent, therefore, no choice compat.
ible with dignity and honor was len
other than the way which had been an.
nounced in her note of April 20. 1916.
covering the case If Germany should
not want to give up her submarine
method. II these arguments are corr
rectly reported by Reuter-. then I must
decidedly protest against them. For
more than a century friendly relations
between us and America have been
CAREFUL promoted. We honored them
as Bismarck once put 1t as an heir
loom from Frederick the Great. Both
countries benefited by it, both giving
and taking"