The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-09-30
Won Kuehlmann, Talking to
Reichstag, Praises Cour-
ageous Step.
DENIES ALL DlSCORD
Declares Motive Of Central
Powers Reply Is to Open
Way for Peace.

Berlin, Sept. c9.--Via I1ondon.-Brit-
ish admiralty per wireless press.--The
German secretary for foreign affairs.
DIR. Richard Won Kuehlmann, speaking
before the main committee of the
reichstag, said he could not venture to
say what would be the immediate out
come Of the papal steps toward peace.
This courageous initiative OF the
pope" said the secretary. will mark
an epoch in the history of this ire
mendous battle Of nations and will APP
pear as an unfading page in the an
nails Of vatican diplomacy.
1.-THE German people and the German
government, whose consciousness of
their strength and internal security
always made it easy for them to en-
phasize their willingness to conclude
an honorable peace, have reason to
welcome gratefully the initiative of
the curia, which made it possible for
them to set forth again their national
policy in a clear, unambiguous man.
ner. say Intentionally national
policy as hope and believe the reply
of the German government, both as re-
CARDS it's form and contents. embodies
the desires Of an overwhelming ma
jority Of the Germans"
Denies Diseord.
DR.. Won Kuehlmann denied that there
was discord between the government
leader and the people of Germany.
Herr Kuehlmann, in referring to the
note. said:
1T stands like a strongly constructed
building in which each stone is so
firmly fixed that any attempt to re-
move it could react only to the injury
OF those who engage in the task
Dwelling on the pope's words, peace
on EARTH" he said:
In Europe those words today sound
like an echo of long forgotten times,
yet they are no echo, but are even to-
day more than geographical express
sions or mere sentiment. They are the
outcome Of state Of things which is
the growth of a thousand years.
"A little strongly peopled peninsula
on a mighty continent once held domi-
nation Of the world strongly in its
hands l am not saying too much
when l maintain that in none of the
states of this old Europe has condi-
lions during the last 40 years been SC
sire their abolition at the cost of self
destruction. Today, in the middle OF
the war. it is to the mutual interest OF
every large state that Europe shall
not go to pieces. 4 complete break
down would leave every single state
no matter to what combination it be-
,onged, weaker and poorer in outlool
and many states would be quite broker
and without any hope for great ma,
tional future.
The fundamental idea of the Ger.
man reply is to be helpful to the hol.
father in creating an atmosphere II
which alone would be possible fer
tile exchange of thoughts upon con
crete questions, and L man of diplo
matte experience knows that during
this kind of negotiations the nature o
the surrounding atmosphere is Of pri
mary Importance.
IF one were to judge the psycholog
ical condition of our enemies by tn
statement of their newspapers an,
leading men, one must to very unsat
isfactory results. AS long as our en-
emies base themselves on fiction, tn
more clever ones among them do no
DeIleNc III IL, the time may come J
which the German nation, doing pen
ance in sack cloth and ashes and beat
ing their breasts in sorrow nigh
grovel under the yoke of despicabl
demands.
I'VE shall have to continue to spea
by the sword. 1t may not be easy I
show the truth plainly to the nation
of the entente which have been incite
by legends invented at the beginnin
OF the war. but how otherwise is tt
new spirit to come into existence
This is an indispensable condition
we are to arrive at termination {
the present struggle of the nations.
1.-The German people are firmly cor
WINGED that they are conducting ju
war"