The Washington herald., 1917-01-12
GERMANY DEF|ES
ALLIES IN NOTE
SENT NEUTRALS
Refutes Charges Made in En-
tente Answer to Kaiser's
First Proposal.
WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT
Holds Responsibility for the War Does
Not Rest with the Central
Powers.

(By the International News service.)
Berlin, via Sayville, Jan. live
offered peace and meant what we
said. The offer was spurned. We shall
fight on until that peace. which might
have been gained by diplomacy. is
won by our sword"
In substance. this is what Germany.
speaking also for her allies-Austria-
Hungary. Bulgaria and Turkey-told
the neutral world today.
Late this afternoon things began to
stir in Wilhelmstrasse. The day had
been unusually tranquil. There was
no big news" from any Of the fight
ing fronts. Throughout Germany there
was, however, an atmosphere of tense
expectancy. for dispatches from ,Hol-
land and Switzerland had announced
that the entente reply to President
Wilson was on its way to Washington.
Evening extras" were eagerly ex-
pected to bring a summary of the
notes contents. A diplomatic message
by the central powers was furthest
from the peoples minds. = &c.
Berlin Greatly Surprised.
The surprise with which the Berlin
populace learned of a Teutonic- note to
the neutral nations was accordingly in
tense. The foreign secretary, DR.. Al
fred Zimmerman, it was suddenly an
nounced, handed to the representatives
of the neutral countries a declaration as
to the German governments opinion of
the situation as shaped by the events
that followed the central powers peace
offer of December II last.
The note is, in effect, a reply to the
entente's rejection of that offer.
THE form in which they clothe their
communications" says the note, "ex-
cludes an answer to them"
For this reason. which the central pow
ers feel they should make known to the
world, the message was sent to the neu- !
trails,
Not Responsible for War,
Reiteration of the assertion that the
responsibility for the continuance Of the
war does not rest on Germany, a state
ment of the central powers case in the
conflict. emphatic refutation of the ac-
cusations made in the entente's reply to
the peace offer. and a renewed express
sion of "the will to victory are the main
features of the note.
The note emphasizes the futilty of dis
cussing at this time the responsibility
for the world war. but implies that this
blame rests upon the entente, mention
ing "the encircling policy Of England.
he nf
endeavor of Russia to gain Constantine
pie, as well as the instigation of the Ser
bian assassination in Sarajevo and the
complete mobilization OF Russia, which
meant war against GERMANY
Germany states that it was persuaded
that peace which was just and acceptable
to all the belligerents was possible and
that 1t could be brought about by an i'm
mediate exchange of views. and that con-
sequently responsibility for further blood
shed could not be taken.
Shifts Responsibility.
Now that the entente powers have
fatty rejected Germany's suggestion of
a peace conference. the note points out,
responsibility for the continuance for the
war must rest upon Germanys enemies.
The document declares that the sole aim
Of the central powers has been to de-
fend their liberty and their existence.
This aim SO far has been accomplished
Germany points out, and the Teutonic
people and their allies are ready for
peace.
1t is pointed out on the other hand
that the allied powers have had before
them visions of territorial aggrandize-
ment 1t is declared that these am
bitions include the conquest of Alsace
and Lorraine and several Prussian pro-
vinces,' the humiliation and diminution
of the Austro- Hungarian monarchy, and
the partition of Turkey and the mutila-
ton of Bulgaria.
At great length Germany answers the
charges that she is responsible for the
outbreak of ts-- war and she also at
tempts to justify the violation of Bel
yiup,'s neutrality