TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1917-02-20

~ the IRISH anu DUET bOlulSIh III biV
English army. | do not want to
discuss here how lar these men
acted from free. voluntary decision
and not in consequence OF economic
I distress or economic pressure.
want to consider only the plain facts
and everybody knows that during
this world war there we're revoiu.
tions in South Africa and ireland
that had to be suppressed with an
iron fist........s
III the entente really wishes to
carry out the principles of national
tiles | can reply that it would then
be Necessary to establish independent
negro republics In some OF the
Southern states Of the American
Union.
But the entente, in order TO avoid
such an Interpretation, also added
the principle that the historic right
Of nationalities only applied to
western civilization"
Eyes, of course, replied Herr Err
berger; "but they established this
very principle only In order to
Justify the Russian claims. Russia
wants Constantinople, and therefore
the actual wne of that city and
Of the nelshboring straits must be
declared unworthy to enjoy the ad'
vantage Of the principle of national.
tiles and of historic custom. Il do
not want to insist upon the fact
that this same Turkey, or rather
forever ~autocratlc Turkey, when still
without a parliament only a short
time ago, received from England a
guarantee Of territorial integrity.
Then, apparently, Turkey still be.
Ionaed to the countries Of western
civilization; but since Turkey intro.
dueed the parliamentary government
since she decided In nos energetic
fashion for progress, che obviously
had to lose the privilege OF
membership in western eiviization
the very moment when she did not
JOIN the coalition framed against the
central powers.
"You see there is method in this
madness, and the method becomes
still more transparent If you re.
member that this anne Russia-ap.
parently because a member Of west.
ern civilization, claims Con~stantinopie
against historic rights and against
the principle of acknowledgements
to maintain the privilege to rule
/ also In the future conquered nations
Of other tongues. All these Firms,
~Llthuanians, Let's, Little Russians.
Jews and Georgian christians and
the rest of the subdued races in
Russla-they all shall be protected
to the end by western civilization"
Asked for what purpose the
principles were stated by the entente
powers, Herr Erzberger replied:
All this ~profusion Of words and
all these glittering g~eneralities have
-as far as Germany is concerned
only one aim: To find a legal pretext
for the conquest of Alsace-Lorraine,
which was planned by the French
! The French want this land only be
cause once in the past they con
quered It by force and against the
will Of the Inhabitants.
And II they say the people oil
Alsace-Lorraine In a majority are
against Germany then they ought to
remember that there has been no
revolution in Alsace-Lorraine, but
that more than 100000 volunteers
from this Alsace-L Lorraine joined
German regiments during the first
days Of the present a
Conquest and a%nnexations are the
aims of the entente. England wants
to promote her imperialistie policy
in Mesopotamla and Egypt, ana
therefore promises to her allies and
tools in Europe, to the Russians and
the French, the possession OF Ger
man and Austro-Hungarian land
which they all want 10 conquer and
which they want to annex, telling
them with most incredible ~effrontery
that they are entitled to it by human
and divine justice"
What will be the immediate con.
sequences Of the answer given by
the entente?"
zone consequence we already have
witnessed In Germany" replied Herr
Erzherger. 1.-THE ~unspeakable i'm
morality which eharaeterIzes the de-
mands OF the entente has brought
about what previously nobody would
have thought possible: there are no
more differences Of opinion in Ger.
many. You will have noticed thai
the Conservative newspapers have
reprinted aud endorsed editorials
from the Socialist organs. Now
everybody in Germany understands
that they covet u land, that they
mean to conquer it, that they want
to annihilate US and that they con.
slider 1t an act Of generosity il they
make the concession not TO drown
every individual in Germany in the
rivers. And as Germany through
the madness Of the entente has been
welded into one unit Of iron, thus
II is with the league Of the central
powers. The Danube monarchy,
united with us for good and sad
hours, defends herself against
threatened partition and against the
deposition OF the house Of Hapsburg,
which is beloved and distinguished
By the services It has rendered the
country.
"But one thing I know: If the
entente believes that peace with Us
Is possible on this basis, then It Is
mistaken. The brutality with which
we are threatened could only be ae.
eepted by a country which is
completely conquered and trampled
under the yictors heel. And that we
are not q conquered countryi that,
.sfae III ia kanaa rrnhaffffee 90