Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-04
CLAIMS
FROM GERMANY
CALLED ABSURD
DR.. Won Kuehlmann SCOTS
Idea of Such a Move at
Peace Table.
SECRETARY THINKS
RUSSIA is KEYNOTE

RUSSIA Is NE i MUTE
! London, Dec. 1.-The German For
eign Secretary, DR.. Won Kuehlmann. is
quoted in Central News dispatch
from Amsterdam as saying it was alb
surd to imagine Germany would ente!
peace conference with large claims
l. ALL EYES ON RUSSIA.
Amsterdam, Dec during yester
days sitting of the reichstag main
committee Dr. Won Kuehlmann made
a speech in which he said:
(! Our eyes at the present moment
are turned toward the east Russia
has set the World ablaze. The gang
Of bureaucrats and sycophants, rotteli
!, to the core, overruling the weak and
misguided, though probably we'll
meaning autocrat surroptiously
brought about the mobilization of
that country which was the actual
and immediate cause of the gigantic
catastrophe which befe,l the world
!, SWEEPS CULPRiTS ASIDE.
| Now, however, Russia has swept
aside the culpHts, and she is laboring
| to find through ri arrIstice and peace
an opportunity for her internal recon,
stTuction. The principles hitherto an
nouneed 10 the wcrld by the present
rulers in Petrograd appear - be en-
/ tirely acceptable as a basis for re-
organization OF affairs in tie east, q
reorganization which, while fully TAX
| ing into account the iight Of nations
Or I~&~ ~, T.
calculated permanently to safeguard
the essential interests OF the two
great neighboring nations, Germany
and Russia.
REFERS TO ITALY.
After referring to the Teuton vic,
tory in Italy and to the bitterness
caused in Germany by ltaly's eatranrh
into the war, Dr.. yon Kuehlman said
Nevertheless there be some who
in this hour OF utter collapse will no:
withhold sympathy from the Italy
people"
The effect Of Germanys military
successes, the foreign secretary said,
was noticeable also in England and
France.
"In Germany" the speaker said,
| relations between the people and the
crown have been rendered freer and
more active and therefore stronger.
!, The development has been actually
opposite that of England and France,
where freedom Of thought and Of
speech have been suppressed, partly
by violent and brutal measures. In
these countries which had been de-
nlccracies policies are tending more
and more toward absolute dictator.
ship.
FRANCES LAST CARD.
I'm France actuated by the logged
desire to continue the war which
finds it's mainstay in President Poin-
care. Clemanceau has been called to
power as the last card in the game.
In England the development which
has now occurred in France took
PLACE some time ago. The party for
war to the end brought Lloyd George
| TO the FORE He was invested with
powers under which, disregarding the
provisions so dear to the British con-
stitution he was made de facto die
tator."
The foreign secretary then told his
hearers it had been said Germany
had shown great reserve on account
of the fact that she had fraudulent
design and that once German astute-
/ ness had succeeded in bringing to-
gether her advorsaries at the confer
ences table, she would come out with
impossible claims, reckoning that peo-
pie, being tired of war and prepared
for far-reaching sacrifices would not
~ hni ctafn
necessary to refute German demands.
On this account, i has been said, 1t
would be necessary for Germany's en-
enlies TO continue the fight until Ger
many was forced to make detailed
statement of her terms.
MAY LEARN TERMS.
| "If our adversaries are anxious to
know what our aims are he contin.
ued. this matter is very simple in
deed. There is suficient number of
ways at their disposal. History has
not furnished a single example OF
any great diplomatic assembly pur.
porting to settle international affairs
ever having been convened without
previously having informed itself as
10 the intentions of the parties con.
cerned."
Germany said DR.. Won knehlman,
welcomed the clearing of the situation
as regards the western powers, ''uD-
der pressure of our recent successes
lie added:
Those in favor of war to the ex-
IRENE have come out into the open,
demanding victory and nothing but
victory. How they intend 10 use this
.,ictory is shown by the secret docu-
ment published by the Russian gov
eminent"
WILL BATTLE VIOLENCE.
But today" he continued. "it is
certain that the pope's message is re.
zeiy.ng no response from the western
covers and that France and England
are resolved to rely only on violence.
Therefore, the German people viii
stand up and be prepared to beat
force with force until the dawn Of the
better and more humane understand.
ing WHICH is beginning 70 sppear in
The eastern sky shall arise in the ma
iiops rf the west which are as vet