Arizona republican., 1917-05-16

eAlSleHCt Ol lSle ndtlOIl, are IllHily ranged round the kaiser, whom they trust and who trusts them. The kali ser's word of August lives unaltered. Roesicke, who sets himself forward as a particular protector of this word, has received in the kaiser's Easter message the assurance of the unaltered existence of the kaiSerS word.
 T trust that the reserve which l must eXercise-it would be unScrupu- lous on my part did I not exercise it. will receive support from the majority ot the reicnstag and also amongst the people
 "The entire people, with all it's thoughts and sorrows and feelings, is with it's sons up there, who with unex- ampled tenacity and defiance of death, resist the daily renewal of attacks of the British and French.
 Even today I see no readiness for peace on the part of England or France, nothing of the abandonment of their excessive aims of conquest and economic destruction. Where then were the government who last winter openly stood up before the world in order to terminate this insane slaugh- ter of peoples? Were they in London or in Paris? The most recent utter ances which I have heard from Lon don declare that the war aims which were announced two years ago remain unaltered.
 Even Herr Scheidemann will not believe that l could meet this declara- tion with beau geste Does anyone believe, in view of the state of mind of our western enemies, that they could be induced to conclude peace by i a program of renunciation?
 "1t comes tO tbiS- Shall iunu1adi- ately give our western enemies an as- l surance which will enable them to pro- long the war indefinitely without dan 1 ger of losses to themselves? Shall I 1 tell these enemies: Come what may we shall under all circumstances be people who renounce; We shall not touch the hair of your head. But you who want our liyes-you can, without any risks. continue to try your luck Shall l nail down the German em- pire in all directions by a one sided formula which only comprises one part | Of the total peace conditions and which renouces successes won by the blood of our sons and brothers and leaves all other matters in suspense?
 No. I will not pursue such a policy. l That would be the baSest ingratitude toward the heroic deds of our people at | the front and at home. It would per manently press down our people, to the | smallest worker, in their entire condi- tions of life. It would be equivalent to | surrending the future of the father land.
 "Or ought l. conversely, to set forth a program of conquest? I decline to oo that (cries from the right: i've are not demanding that'D If it has not Teen demanded. then we are of one opinion.
 T also decline to set forth a pro- gram of conquest. We did go forth to war, and we stand in battle now against the whole world, not in order to make conquests, but exclusively to secure our existence and to establish ii mly the future of the nation A pro- gram of conquest helps as little as a program of reconciliation to win vic- tory and the war.
 "On the contrary I should thereby merely play the game of the hostile rulers and make it easier for them further to delude their war-weary peo- pies into prolonging the war immeas- urably. This too, would be base in gratitude toward our warriors near Ar ras and the Aisne.
 As regards our eastern neighbor Russia, 1 have already recently spoken. It appears as if new Russia has declined
  quest. Whether Russia will or can acr in the same sense on her allies l am unable to estimate Doubtless England. with the assistance of her allies, is em- ploying all her efforts to keep Russia harnessed to England's war chariot and to traverse Russian wishes for the speedy restoration of the worlds peace.
 If. however, Russia wants to prevent further bloodshed and renounce all violent plans of conquest, for herself. If she wishes to restore durable rela- tons of peaceful life side by side with us. then surely it is matter of course that we, as we share this wish, will not disturb the permanent relationship in the future and will not render it's de- velopment impossible by demands. which, indeed, do not acOrd with the freedom of nations and would deposit l Tn the Russian nation the germ of en- ) mity. (Thunderous applause.) T doubt not that an agreement. aim ) ing exclusively at a mutual under , standing, could be attained which ex-
 cludes every thought of oppression and
 which would leave behind no sting and
 no discord
 Our military position has never beer
 so good since the beginning of the war
 The enemy in the west, despite his s terrible losses, cannot break through our U-boatS are operating with in- g creaslng success. 1 won't use any fine l words about them; the deeds of oul s U-boat men speak for themselves. r think even the neutrals will recognize g that
 So far as compatible with our duty e toward our own people, who come first = we take into account the interests O. S the neutral states. The concession. S which we have made to them are no = empty promises. That is the case il
 regard to our frontier neighbors. Hol. = land and Scandinavia, as well as thos,
 states which, on account of their geo
 graphical position are especially great ly exposed to enemy pressure
 Il am thinking in this connection
 especially of Spain, which. loyal to he
 noble traditions, is endeavoring unde ' great difficulties to prepare her inde pendent policy of neutrality. We thank
 fully recognize this attitude and hay,
 only one wish-that the Spanish peopl reap the reward of their strong, in il heritant policy by further developins
 their power
 Q Thus, time is on our side. Witt II full confidence we can trust that W, a are approaching a satisfactory end , Then the time will come when we cai , negotiate with our enemies about ou a war aims, regarding which I am in ful
 harmony with the supreme army com 70 mand. Then we will attain a peac which will bring us liberty to rebuil,
 what the war has destroyed in the un v hampered development of our strength l. so that from the blood and all the sac d rlflces, an empire, a people will ris