The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-03-30
GERMANY THINKING
TWICE ABOUT WAR
W|IHUNCLf SAM
neports from Berlin Indicate Kaiser
Not so Bl0odthirsty
SAYS RESPONSIBILITY is on US
Yet Chancellor Reiterates That SUBJ
marine Warfare is Necessary
Means Of Defense.

Berlin. March 29.--"Germany never
had the slightest intention of attack
ing the United States of America and
does not have such intention now. 1t
never desired war against the United
States of America and does not de-
sire II today" was the declaration
made by the German imperial chan
cellor, Dr. Won Bethmann-Hollweg, in
a speech In the Reichstag at Berlin
yesterday, says wireless dispatch
from the German capital.
The chancellor made important dec
larations concerning Germany's policy
toward the United States and Russia
How did these things deylop?' asked
tho chancellor in speaking OF the rela-
tions with the United States. lie
then proceeded to answer the question
by reviewing the causes which led up
to the German use of submarines in
unrestricted warfare
Declaring that Germany had under
taken unrestricted submarine warfare
ror it's defense, DR.. Won Bethmann-
Hollweg said: IF the American ma
tion considers this cause for which
to declare war against the German ma
tion. with which it has lived in peace
for more than 100 years, IL this action
warrants an increase OF Dloodshed,
we shall not have to bear the burden
Of responsibility for 1t.
Concerning German relations with
the United States the chancellor,
whose speech is reported by the over
seas news agency (the German OH
cial news bureau,) said: Within
the next few days the directors OF the
American nation will be convened by
President Wilson for an extraordinary
session Of Congress in order to de-
eide the question OF war or peace bet
tween the American and German ma
tions. Germany never had the slight
est intention of attacking the United
States of America and does not de-
sire 1t today.
How did these things develop?
More than once we told the United
States that we made unrestricted use
of the submarine weapon expecting
that England could be made to OBJ
serve, in her policy Of blockade the
laws of humanity and international
agreements. This blockade policy
this l expressly recall has been called
illegal and indefensible' (the imperial
chancellor here used the English
words) by President Wilson and Sec
retary of State Lansing. Our expec-
tations, which we maintained during
eight months, have been disappointed
completely; England not only did not
give up her illegal and indefensible
policy of blockade, but uninterrupted
ly intensified it. England, together
with her allies, arrogantly rejected
the peace offers made by us and our
allies and proclaimed her war aims.
which aims are our annihilation and
that of our allies. ~
Then we took unrestricted sub
marine warfare into our hands; then
we had to for our defense. If the
American nation considers this a
cause for which to declare war against
the German nation with which 1t has
lived in peace for more than 100 years
IL this action warrants an increase
of bloodshed, we shall not have tc
bear the responsibility for it. The
German nation, which feels neither
hatred nor hostility against the Unit
ed States of America shall also beai
and overcome this"
Dealing with Russia, the imperia
chancellor said that the Russian EN-
peror had not listened to the German
emperor's advice no longer to oppose
the justified wishes OF his nation fol
reforms. Had Russia's attention beer
concentrated on internal reconstruc
tion," said the chancellor, there
would have been no room for the rest
less policy OF expansion which finally
led to this war" DR.. Won Bethmann
Hollweg emphatically denied that tht
German emperor or Germany wa!
desirous of restoring 'czardom.
Continuing, Herr Noske expressed
the desire for immediate peace will
Russia and declared that the peac,
tapdorox, t,ara Would becOma a do