The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-28

mics were ready for peace. AS to
the nature Of this peace itself, he
recalled the discus sions in the news
papers. At public meetings and also
IN the parliament. 1t would be pre-
mature. he said, for him to partici-
pate in these debates
| He continued:
| Not Given TO Promises.
In my position to make promises
| and to give formulated and detailed
conditions would be unproductive and
precarious. The leaders in the hos
tile countries have done this album
dainty. They have given extravagant
assurances to each other, but the oniy
thing they gained by this is that they
themselves and their nations have
been involved more deeply in the
war. Their example does not tempt
me.
What ! could say about the ten
dency and the aim of our peace con-
ditions l have said repeatedly: To
terminate the war by lasting peace
wh1ch Will grant reparation for all
wrongs suffered and guarantee the
existence and the future of strong
Germany. That Is our aim-no.hing
less and nothin more =
After dealing with the problems of
domestic policy, the chancellor brief
ly recalled his last speech in the
Reichstag in which he had announced
the proposition transmitted by Ger
many and her allies to their enemies
to enter into peace negotiations.
Hatred and Mockery."
Their answer" continued the
chancellor, was more rude and pre-
sumptious than anv sensible person
in our country or in the neutral
countries could have imagined. The
effect produced by this document OF
barbarian hatred and mockery is
manifest to the whole world. Our
alliances and our fronts stand firmer
and the German nation is more united
and resolute than ever"
The speaker then turned to the
establishment OF barred zones around
England, France and Italy, and to
the answers received from the neu-
trails to the communication issued by
the central powers.
we do not by any means under
value the difficulties caused by the
submarine warfare to neutral ship
ping" said he, land we. therefore,
! try to alleviate these difficulties as
much as possible. For this purpose
we made an attempt to supply neutral
states within the boundary of activity
OF our sea forces with raw materials
needed by them. such as coal and
| iron.
But we also knew that ali these
difficulties after all are only due to
/ England's tyranny of the sea.
win Break English Bonds.
we Will, and we shall. break this
enslavement of all non English trade.
We are meeting half way all the
wishes or neutrals that can be COM
piled with. But in the endeavor to
40 30, we cannot go beyond the
limits imposed upon us by the ir-
revocable decision to reach the aim
set by the establishment of the bar
red zone
II am sure that the moment will
come when the neutrals themselves
VIII thank us for our firmness For
the freedom Of the oceans which we
shall gain by fighting Is also to their
advantage.
"One step further than those taken
by the European neutrals has been
made--as is known-hy the United
States of America. President Wilson
after receiving our note of January
81 brusquely broke off relations with
lus.
mo authentic communication an n
the reasons given for his step has
reached me.
THE former United States ambas-
sador here in Berlin merely communi-
Gated in spoken words to the secretary
OF state for foreign affairs the break
ing off Of relations and asked for his
passports
Without Precedent, Says Chancellor.
This form of breaking off relations
between great nations living In peace
In probably without precedent IN his
tory.
"All Official documents are lacking.
l am forced to rely upon doubtful
sources-that Is, upon unofficial YER
sions OF the contents OF the message
sent by President Wilson on February
to the congress OF the United States.
I'm this version the president is re-
| ported to have said that our note OF
January 81. suddenly and without
| previous indication, deliberately with
drew the solemn promises made in
our note Of May 10, 1915. To the
| United States government, therefore.
no other choice compatible with it's
dignity and honor was left. the YER
sion further said, than the way which
1t had announced in its note Of April
20. 1916. in the event that Germany
did not want. to give up her subma-
rtne methods
Enters Protest.
" IL IieSe arg uUlGHLS are correctly
reported by Reuter-, then l must de-
'ctdedly protest against them
For more than century the
friendly relations between us and the
American nation have been carefully
promoted We have honored them
as Bismarck once put it-as an heir
loom handed down to us by Frederick
the Great. Both countries benefit by
them; both are giving and taking.
Since the beginning of the war
things have changed on the other side
or ~ water, Old principles have
been overthrow.
ION August 81, 1918, during the
Mexican troubles. President Wilson in
a solemn message to congress. de-
clai<l that he intended to follow the
best usage OF International law by pro-
hibiting the supplying of arms to both
Mexican factions at war against each
other.
'One year later. in 1914. these usages
were apparently no longer considered
good.
countless shipments of war material
nave been supplied by America to the
entente and while the right of the
American citizen to travel without
htndrance to the entente countries and
HIS right to trade without hindrance
/ w Erpv