New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-02
Asserts Franco-Russian Let
tiers Were Falsihed by
the Chancellor
Calls His T actics Crude
Premier Repeats Denial That
France Is in War for
Conquest

Paris, Aug. Premier Rioot repIleo
in the Chamber yesterday to the dec
laration made Saturday by Dr..
Michaelis, the German Chancellor, that
there was a secret treaty between
France and Russia having in view plans
Of conquest Premier Ribot said:
THE German Chancellor publicly
commanded the French government to
declare whether in secret sitting June
the French government had not made
known to the Chamber of Deputies the
terms Of a secret treaty made before
the Russian revolution whereby the
Emperor bound himself to support
French pretensions to German territory
on the left bank of the Rhine.
THE Chancellor's version contains
gross inaccuracies and absolute lies,
notably regarding the role he attributes
to the President of the republic in CIV
ing an order TO sign treaty unknown
10 Premier BRAND.
"The Chambers know how things
passed VI. Doumergue (ex-Premier
and Foreign Minister) after converse
ton with the Emperor, demanded and
obtained ". Brands authorization to
take note Of the Emperor's promise to
support our claim to Alsace. Lorraine
and to leave US free TO seek guarantees
against fresh aggression, not by annex
ing territories on the left bank Of the
Rhine, but making an autonomous state
Of these territories which would protect
US and also Belgium against invasion.
"We have never thought TO do what
Bismarck did in 1871. We are there
fore entitled to deny the allegation Of
the Chancellor, who evidently knows Of
the letters exchanged in February, 1917,
at Petrograd and falsifed since, as his
most illustrious predecessoa falsifed
the Ems dispatch. Whenever the Rus
sian government is willing 20 publish
these letters we have no objection.
Omissions by Chancellor
"The Chancellor refrained from speak
ing about my declaration March 81,
wherein | repudiated in Frances name
any policy of conquest and annexation
by force. He has wilfully forgotten my
language May % in the Chamber, say
ing we were ready to enter into con-
versation with Russia as to the object
of the war, and if the German people,
whose right TO live and develop peace
fully we DO not contest, understood that
we wished peace founded on the right
of people, the conclusion of peace would
thereby be singularly facilitated.
FINALLY the Chancellor passed over
in silence the resolution unanimously
voted after the June secret session"
Here Premier Ribot read from his
speech in the Chamber warning against
those who wished to spread the con-
viction that France was seeking con-
quest, and read the terms Of the resolu-
ton adopted by the Chamber at that
time, declaring that peace conditions
must include the liberation of ter.f-
tories occupied by Germany, the return
of Alsace-Lorraine to France and just
reparation for damage done in the In
yaded regions. The resolutions also
favored the creation of league of ma
tions for the maintenance OF peace.
Calls Maneuvres Crude
"Who now dares say to the world
that we wish annexation" continued
Premier Ribot. "Such manpuvres are
too crude to deceive any one, especially
the democratic masses of the Russian
people. 1t is vainly being attempted to
separate them from their allies by de-
ceiving them as TO the true sentiments
of French democracy.
"What Is the Chancellor seeking? He
is trying to hide the embarrassment
which ne feels in defining Germany's
objects of war and conditions whereon
she would make peace. He is trying es-
pecially to turn aside attention from
the terrible responsibility weighing on
the conscience of the Kaiser and his
councillors.
st Is on the morrow of the publica-
ton Of decisions made July at a coun-
Gil held at Potsdam at which all conse-
ouences of the ultimatum to be sent TO
Serbia were discussed and from which
war was bound 20 spring that the
Chancellor Is trying this diversion.
There is something shameless, when
one has such sponsibillties, in de-
handing our intentions.
"Assuredly it is not to Germany that
we address ourselves, but TO all who
are witnesses or actors In the struggle
which we have been maintaining for the
past three years, and who know that
there is In the depth of the French
peoples soul deep attachment TO the
principles of justice, respect for peo-
Plies rights, and, may add at the risk
Of not being understood by our enemies.
true generosity"
The declaration was frequently p
plauded. IL was not followed by any
debate.