The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-28
GERMAN CHANCELLOR
DEFENDS POLICIES.
Expresses Surprise Tint Unitet
States Should Break Diplo-
matte Relations.
SAYS ACT UNPRECEDENTED
In Speech to Reichstag He Declares
Germany win Fight On to Certain
Victory--NeutraIs Must Charge All
Their Ills to England
OBy International News Service. }

(By International News Scrvtce.)
Berlin, via Sayville, Feb. 27.-In
the most spirited speech of his career.
DR.. Won Bethmann Hoilweg, imperial
German Chancellor. today bitterly at
tackled the United States for Sub
mission TO Englands power and con-
troll and "onesided neutrality"
He characterized the manner in
which America broke diplomatic re-
lations with Germany as probably
without precedent In history" Tho
only notification of the break. Ger
many received, he said. was the
to Foreign Secretary zimmerman
and Mr.. Gerard's request for his pass
ports. The only basis on which he
could explain the break, he added.
was an unofficial version OF President
Wilson's speech in the senate. an
nouncing the diplomatic rupture.
Against the reservations made in
that speech the chancellor said he
must decidedly protest" He refuted
the charge that Germany had broken
her pledges Germany. he said, had
never given unconditional pledges.
but had openly and expressly de-
clared in her note of May 4, 1915,
that IL the United States could not
bring England to terms and break
the Starvation blockade" Germany
would find herself face to face with
new situation. In a new situation.
no explained, Germany did find her
self when after nine months of wait
ing, the United States had done moth
ing to re-establish the freedom of
the seas.
Alleges Inconsistency.
The chancellor accused the United
States of inconsistency In the matter
of arms exports. and neutrality in
general. He pointed to the embargo
on arms TO Mexico in 1918. justified by
the president In pointing to "the best
usa ges OF international law
zone year later" said the chan
cellor, I'm 1914, these usages were
apparently no longer considered good t"
He asserted that the break with
Germany and the attempted mo-
bili2ation of all neutrals against us'
will not serve the protection OF the
freedom of the seas or bring about a
peace, as outlined by President Will
son. but must rather have the effect
Of an encouraged attempt to starve
Germany and multiply the blood
shed"
He said the only reason England
had not destroyed American lives was
because America voluntarily sub
mitted to the English orders, and be-
cause England. therefore. could attain
her object without using force"
No Backward Possible.
In view of the entire situation. the
chancellor asserted, there was for
Germany no backward" possible. the
only watchword being ahead"
The speaker called the entente
answer to President Wilson'S message
last December, a document OF bar
barian hatred and mockery.
All the difficulties suffered by neu-
trails in this war. he said. were due TO
'Tngland's tyranny of the sea-" and
added:
I'VE will and we shall break this
enslavement of tall non-English
trade" He was sure, he said. that
the time would come when the neu-
trails would thank, Germany for her
flrmness.
The chancellor made a significant
statement regarding peace taken by
some as foreshadowing German
demand for indemnity He said Ger
many desired to terminate the war
'hy q lasting peace which will grant
MS reparation for all wrongs suffered
and guarantees for the existence and
the future of n strong Germany. That
IS our aim-notltng less and nothing
more"
He expressed full confidence in the
success of unrestricted U-boat war
fare. the results of which up-to-date,
he said. already had surpassed all
expectations Concluding. he pre-
dicted that 1.-The coming month1'
would bring peace.
Text of ChancelIor's Speech.
The chancellor's speech follows:
while our soldiers on the front
stand in the drum fire of the trench es
and our submarines are defying death
Fastening through the sea, and while
We at home have no other task, alb
solutely none other but to produce
cannon, ammunition and food and
distribute victuals justly among the
population in the midst of this strug-
gle for life and for the future OF our
empire. struggle intensified to the
! extreme. there Is only one necessity
that is the watchword of the dav and
that dominates all questions of policy
both foreign and domestic, namely,
| fight and win victory"
| The chancellor then pointed out
| that the German nation through the
| Reichstag's vote granting the new
war credits had again demonstrated
| 10 the whole world it's readiness to
/ continue the struggle until its enc