The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-02-01


Mr.. Secretary OF State: Your Ex
were good enough to transmit
20 the imperial government copy of
the message which the President of the ]
nitcd States of America addressed to
the senate on the - inst. The imperial
government has given il the earnest con
Sideration which the President s state !
mcnts deserve, inspired as they are by
a deep sentiment Of responsibility.
1t is highly gratifying TO the Imperial
government TO ascertain that the main
tendencies of this important statement
correspond largely to the desires and
principles professed by Germany. These
principles especially include Sclf-gov-
crnment and equality of rights for all
nations.
Germany would be sincerely glad if in
recognition of this principle countries
like Ireland and India, which do not
enjoy the benefits of political indcpend
cnce. should now obtain their freedom.
The German people also rcpudatc all
alliances which serve to force the coun-
tries into a competition for might and
to involve them in a net of selfish in
trigucS. On the other hand, Germany
viii gladly 60 opcratc IN al 'cffotts to +
prevent future wars !
The freedom of the seas being a pre-
liminary condition of the FREQ existence
of nations and the peaceful intercourse
between them, as Wei as the open door
for the commerce Of an nations, has al
ways formed part of the leading princ-
Piles of Germauy'S political program.
All the more the Imperial government
regrets that the attitude of her enemies
who are so entirely opposed to peace
Z Il. u. IL.
present To bring about the realization
OF these lofty ideals.
Germany and her allies were ready to
enter now into a discussion of peace and
had set down as basis the guaranty of
existence, honor and free development
of their peoples. Their aims. as has
been expressly stated in the note of
Dee. T., 1916, were not directed toward
the destruction or humiliation of their
enemies and were according 10 their CON
yictions perfectly compatible with the
rights of the other nations.
rs 10 Belgium, for which such warm
and cordial sympathy Is felt i'm the
United States, the chancellor had de
clared only few weeks previously that
It's annexation had never formed a part
of Germany s intentions The peace to
bc signed with Belgium was to provide
for such conditions in that country. with
which Germany desires to maintain
friendly relations, that Belgium should
mot be used again 10y Germany 5 enc
mics for the purpose of instigatiug con
tmuous hostile intrigucs.
4 wSach Iyrac,.rAcNaIv 1nes sures arcaal
i the more necessary, as Germany 5 enc
mics have repeatedly stated not only il
I speeches delivered by their leading men
/ but also in the statutes of the cconomi
I cal conference i'm Paris, that ii is THEN
l intention not 10 treat Germany as am
equal, even after peace has been re-
I stored, but 10 continue their hostile at
tltude and especially to wage a svste
matieal economic war against her
t The attempt of the four allied powers
Y to bring about peace has failed owing
III TO the lust of conquest of their enemies
. who desired to dictate the conditions OF
g peace. Under the pretense Of following
the principles of nationality our enc.
- mics have disclosed their real aims in
! this way, viz; To dismcmbcr and dis
honor Germany, Austria Hungary. Tur
key and Bulgaria To the wish Of re
Cancellation they oppose the viii of de
struction. They desire a fight to The
bitter end.
new situation has thus been created
which forces Germany to new decisions
Since two years and a half ago England
Is using her naval power for crimina
attempt 10 force Germany into submis
sion by starvation. In brutal contcmp
| of international law the group of pow
crs led by England does not only eur
tail the legitimate trade of their on
ponentS, but they also by ruthless pres
sure compel neutral countries either [
altogether forego every trade not agree
/. l4pIe 10 the entcnte powers or to limit i
according to their arbitrary docrccss
I'd The American government knows sth
steps which haNe been ftakeni TO cirus
England and her allies to return to TIN
rules of International law and to r,
spect the freedom Of the seas. III
English government, however. insist
upon continuing its war of starvation
which does not at all affect the mil
tary power Of its opponents. but cor
pcls women and children. the sick an
the aged, to suffer for their countI
pains and priyations which endanp,
the vitality Of the nation.
Thus British tyranny marcilesslv i
creases the suff2rings of the world i
l different to the laws of humanit5. i
different to the protests Of the neutra
| whom they severely harm, indiffarel
\ even to the silent longing for pea,
A among England S own allies. Each II
Of the terrible struggle causes new 4
struction, new sufTerings Each al
shortening the war will on both side
preserve the life Of thousands of bra,
soldiers and be a benefit to mankind
! The imperial government could II
justify before its own conscience b
fore the German people and before h
m tory the neglect Of any means dc
nm tined 70 bring about III, end of Il
W war. Like the President of the init
So states, the imperial government hi
~ hoped TO reach this goal By negoti
81 tions After the attempts to come
"a an understanding with the enten
~ powers have been answered by the Ii
I'D ter with the announcement of an j
"a tensifed continuation Of the war. t
k& imperial govcrnment-in order TO ser
&4 the welfare of mankind in a high
81 sense and not to wrong its own peoI
III 4