Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-05-16
Representatives of People Are
Told That Government S
Aims Are Not to Be Dis
closed at This Time,
CENTRAL POWERS ARE
IN ENTIRE ACCORD
All Talk Of DisCordant Views
Are False; KaiSer's Mouth
piece Waits More Favorable
Time.
10y mo.s,ss ,oua... .rse,.. LEASED WIRE,

Berlin, May Is tvia London, l1:40
p. m.)--In one of the most vigorous
and plain spoken speeches he has yet
made before the reichstag since the
outbreak of the war the German chan
cellor today bluntly refused to enter
into a discussion OF Germany's peace
aims as demanded in interpretations
by the conservatives and socialists.
DR.. Won Bethmann- Hollweg asserted
that these called for the governments
specific peace program. the an
nouncement of which would at the
present time not only be premature,
but which it woud be difficult to
formulate, were of no practical serv-
ice to the nation In the present situa-
ton.
Not Swayed by Party.
While appreciating the passionate
desire of all classes to know the gov
ernment's views, the chancellor plain
ly declared that he would not permit
himself to be swayed by pressure
from any source, and that he was not
under the spell of any party or clique.
The best interests Of the nation, he
believed, demanded that the reticence
he had imposed on himself in the face
of continuous clamor since December,
1915, should be observed by him un-
til the moment was ripe. He was sure
that such course would be endorsed
by the nation at iss se, which contin-
ued to rally around Its emperor and
also would meet the views of the ma
jority of the members of the reich
stag.
The chancellor then briefly reviewed
the present military situation and
Germany's relation to the neutrals, in
the course of which he warmly praised
the attitude adopted by Spain.
These interpretations demand from
me definite statement on the ques-
ton of our war aims" said the chan
cellor ITO make such statement
at the present moment would not
serve the country's interests. | must
therefore, decline to make il.
Chifies Questioners.
"Since the winter of 1914-1915 /
have been pressed now from one side,
now from the other, publicly to state
our war aims, II possible, with details,
Every day they were demanded from
me. To force me to speak, an attempt
was made to construe my silence re-
garding the program of the war aims
of individual parties as agreement.
Against that | must again resolutely
protest.
ION giving liberty for the free dis
cussion of the war aims l had 1t ex-
pressly declared that the government
could not and would not participate in
the conflict of views. / also protested
against any positive conclusions what
ever regarding the governments at
,titude being drawn from the govern
ment's silence.
II now repeat this protest in the
most conclusive form. What l was
ever able TO say about our war aims
say here in the reichstag publicly,
They were general principles-they
could not 'be more-but they were
clear enough to exclude Identification
such as may be attempted with other
programs. These fundamental lines
have been adhered to up to today.
They found further solemn expression
in the peace offer made conjointly
with our allies. December IL, 1916.
All Central Powers in Accord.
"The supposition, which has recent.
ly arisen. that some differences OF
opinion existed on the peace question
between us and our allies belongs to
the realm of fable. I expressly affirm
same time. also expressing the convic-
ton that the leading statesmen of the