The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-02-01
Human Nature Is What Makes a Peace Conference Br

| make COIuDleul. ITeSlueUL wilson
! began at once a careful study of the
I document.
The note, which was handed to
James w. Gerard, the American am
bassador, reads:
Your excellency had the kindness
to communicate on the 22nd of this
| month the message which the Presi.
| dent of the United States on the same
| day addressed to the American SEN
ate. The imperial government took
knowledge of the contents OF the mes
sage with that earnest attention
| which is becoming to the explanations
| of the President, inspired by his sense
of responsibility.
ut affords her great satisfaction to
state that the general lines of Lnis re-
markable manifestation in the widest
sense agree with the principles and
wishes of Germany and her allies. To
these belong in the first place the
right of self government and the
equal rights Of all nations. Recog-
nizing this principle, Germany would
gladly welcome it il nations like Ire
land and India, which do not enjoy the
blessings of an independent state,
should now obtain liberty.
Alliances which drive nations into
competition for hegemony and incline
them towards any selfish intrigues are
likewise refused by the German peo-
pie. On the other hand it is enthusi-
astic for cooperation in all endeavors
which aim at the prevention of future
..f tlN. =,
preliminary condition for free and
peaceful intercourse between nations,
as well as the open door for trade,
always have been guiding principles
of German policy.
Germany, in the peace to be con-
cluded with Belgium, merely wanted
to take precautionary measures so
that that country, with which the i'm
perial government wishes TO live in
good neighborly relations, could not
be exploited by adversaries for the
promotion of hostile attempts. Such
precaution is all the more urgently
needed, since hostile persons in power
in repeated speeches and especially
in the resolutions of the Paris econo-
mic conference, declared their un
yelled intention even after the restor
alton of peace (notO TO recognize
Germany as of equal right, but rather
continue to fight in systematic fash
ion.
The attempt Of the four allied pow
ers to bring about peace failed on ac-
count of the lust of conquest of their
adversaries who (do not?) want
peace. Under the pretext of the prin-
ciple of nationalities they unveiled as
their war aims opposition to and dis
honor for Germany, Austria Hungary,
Turkey and Bulgaria. To our desire
for reconciliation they opposed their
will. They want to fight to the last
"Thus a new situation has sprung
up which forces Germany also to new
decisions. For two years and a half
England adopted political and naval
measures in a criminal attempt to
force Germany and Austria-Hungary
to subsection. Brutally despite the
laws OF nations, the group OF powers
marshaled by England not only pro-
hibits legitimate trade of its adver-
saries, but by reckless pressure even
on neutral states it stops all trade re-
lations (not?) agreeable to it. or
forces them to limit their trade ac-
cording to its orders.
THE American nation knows the
means taken in order to move Eng
land and her allies to return to the
laws of nations and to respect the
law of freedom of the seas. The Brit
ish government persists in its war OF
starvation, which certainly does not
touch the military strength of it's
adversary, but which forces women
and children, the sick and aged per-
sons to undergo painful privations for
their country's sake which are harm
ing the national vitality.
Thus British imperiousness in cold
blood accentuates the suffering Of the
world without regard for every COM
mand of humanity, without regard for
the protest of severely damaged neu-
trails, without regard even for the ST.
lent longing for peace within the ma
tions of its own allies. Every day in
which the fearful struggle goes on
brings new devastation new misery,
new deaths. Every day by which the
war is shortened will preserve on
both sides the lives OF thousands of
brave soldiers, and means blessing
for the tortures of tortured humani-
ty. The imperial government before
its own conscience and before his
tory would be unable to assume the
responsibility IL 1t left untried any
one means to hasten the end of the
war. Together with the President
of the United States 1t has hoped to
obtain this aim by negotiations.
"The attempt to establish an under.
taking between the adversaries hav-
ing been answered by the announce
ment of intensified warfare, the inn
perial government must now continue
the war for existence once more
forced upon it by using it's weapons.
The imperial government, therefore,
is forced to do away with the restric-
tions which until now it has i'm.
pressed upon the use of fighting
means on the sea.
Trusting that the American people
and It's government will be alive to
these reasons for this decision and
for its necessity. the imperial govern
ment hopes that the United States
will appreciate the new state OF af-
fairs from the lofty and exalted stand
point of the imperial government