New Britain herald., 1917-05-16

self, if she wishes to restore durable relations of peaceful life side by side with us. then surely 1t is . matter of course that we, as we share this wish. will not disturb the permanent rela- tionship in the future and will not render its development impossible by demands which. indeed. do not accord with the freedom of nations and would deposit in the Russjan nation the germ of enmity. (Thunaerous ap- plause).
 II doubt not that an agreement aim- Ing exclusively Ut q mutual under- standing could be attained which ex- cludes every thought of oppression and which would leave behind no sting and no discord.
 Fine Cannot Be Broken.
 "our military position has never been so good since the beginning of the war. The enemy in the west, de- spite his terrible losses, cannot break through. Our U-boats are operating with increased success. I won't use any fine words about them-the deeds of our U-boat men speak for them- selves. think even the neutrals will recognize that.
 So far as compatible with our duty toward our own people, who come first; We take into account the inter- ests of the neutral states. The con- sessions which we have made to them are not empty promises. That is the case in regard to our frontier neigh bors. Holland and Scandinavia, as well as those states, which, on ac- count of their geographical position. are especially greatly exposed to enc my pressure. am thinking in this connection especially of Spain, which. loyal to her noble traditions, is en- deavoring under great difficulties to preserve. her independent policy of neutrality. We thankfully recognize this attitude and have only one wish the Spanish people reap tho reward of their strong. independent policy by further developing their power. &4& sS
 .eThus, time is on our sde. With full we can trust that we are a satisfactory end. Then the time will come when we can ne- war aims, regarding which I am in full harmony with the supreme army Then we will attain q
 
 rebuild what the war has destroyed in the unhampered development of our strength, so that from ell the blood and all the sacrifices, an ena- pire. people will rise again strong, and unthreatened by it's enemies, bulwark of peace and la bor."
 On speaking on the socialist inter- pellatiQn, Philipp Scheidemann, for, mer vice president of the Reichstas. defended the socialist peace program of renunciation, and gave the chan cellor's baiters one of his typical grillings.
 A motion to end the debate was lost after which the middle-of the-road parties. made up of the centrists. Ma tional liberals, progressive peoples party and German faction presented joint declaration approving tho chancellor's attitude.
 spahn Endorses silence.
 Following the chancellor. pr. Pe- ter Spahn, leader of the Catholic cen- ter party. speaking in the name of the centrists the national liberals. tho progressive peoples party and the majority of the German fraction, said:
 we are unanimously agreed that at present a thorough discussion in the Reichstag of our war aims, right ly understood, would not serve the in- terests of the Fatherland. The Ger man peoples desire for peace is di- rected toward Q settlement which will guarantee the existence of the German empire, her political, econ- omic, and world power and freedom of development, and which would prevent forever our exclusion from the world markets which Great Brit ain desires. The German people also has confidence in a peace which will approach the aims the chancellor definitely laid down in former speeches.
 We are as one with him today in refusing in the, present circumstances to disclose to our enemies the details of our war aims. It is enough that the government declares that 1t pur- sues neither boundless plans of con- quest nor binds itself to thoughts of peace without annexations and with out indemnities. If the enemy Is Prussian militartsm and the Hohenzollerns in the tllustrious person of the emperor, 1t will only re- suit in bringing His Majesty close to the hearts of the German people.
 ''We resolutely oppose all enemy in our domestic affairs. We do not want to interfere in the domestic affairs of Russia. We are following the struggle of that mighty people toward political and intellectual freedom. We should rejoice if the government were ready at any time to conclude peace with Russia and establish permanent good