New-York tribune., 1917-07-21
DR.. MchaeHs
Fails to State
Germany's Aims
Continued from page I

{
be possible TO oppose the necessity for
peace much longer. We can look for
ward 20 the further labors Of the brave
Hearty applause.)
! army command that the military sit
uation is very good. The great An
glo-French spring offensive in the
West has been shattered by our
armies, which show their unbroken
power and superior ability.
"In the East, in consequence Of the
confusion in Russia, the attack OF Rus
sian millions did not materialize and
there is comparative calm.
"Greece was forced by violence to
enter the war against US. Our common
, front with the brave Bulgarians
stands firm.
"Italy, even through the eleventh
Isonzo battle against our war-tried
Austro- Hungarian brothers, will not
| be able to attain the goal of its breach
of faith-the possession of Trieste.
Not Concerned About America.
"We look without serious concern
upon the optimistic sentiment in the
Entente countries caused by Americas 5
intervention. (Applause.) II is easy
to reckon how much tonnage is neces-
| sary 10 transport an army from Amer
, lea to Europe; how much tonnage is
required to feed such an army. France
and England are scarcely able to feef
and supply their own armies without
influencing the economic situation still
further After our previous success
we shall be able to master this situa-
tion also through our feet, particu lar
~ the submarines. That is our tlrm
conviction and assurance. We and
our allies, therefore can look forward
TO any further development OF mill
tary events with calm security. ZAP
plause.)
"The burning question in our hearts,
/ however, is how much longer the war
is to last. With this I come TO a mat
ter which stands in the centre Of all
our interest and all our proceedings
to-day. Germany did not desire the
war in order to make violent conquests,
and therefore will not continue the war
day longer merely for the sake OF
, such conouests if it can obtain an hon
orable peace"
The Germans, he said, wish to con-
successfully accomplished their pur-
pose and proved themselves invincible
| first. A condition of peace was the
inviolability Of Germany's territory.
| No parley was possible with the enemy
demanding the cession of German soil.
Would Make Peace as Victors
eve must, by means of understand
ing and in a spirit of give and taSe'
guarantee conditions of the existence
of the German Empire upon the CONT
nent and overseas" continued the
Chancellor.
DR.. Michaelis's words on this point
require a careful reading and are capa-
bic of various interpretations otner
than a surface one. His German IN
dcates willingness TO make peace
only as victors, and in his use Oh tne
words understanding and give and
take" (the German words '"verstandl-
gung uni ausgleich") he revives the
Bethmannic ideas of readjustment OF
the frontiers and colonial possessions
, by bargaining rather than the restora-
tion of the status quo.
Peace, he said, must offer the founda-
ton of lasting reconciliation OF ma
tions. loud cheers greeted this state
ment.)
at must" he continued. "as ex-
pressed in YOUR resolution, prevent ma
tions from being plunged into further
enmity through economic blockades and
provide a safeguard that the league IN
the arms of our opponents does not
develop into an economic offensive ALL
ance against us. ~
"These aims may be attained within
the limits of your resolution as | in
terpret it. (Cheers.) We cannot again
offer peace. We have Loyalty stretched
out our hands once. IL met no re-
sponse. But with the entire nation, and
with Germany, the army and its lead
ers in accord with this declaration, the
government feels that if our enemies
abandon their lust for conquest and
their aims at subjugation and wish 70
enter into negotiations we shall listen
honestly and readily for peace to what
they have to say TO US. Until then we
must hold out calmly and patiently.
Food Relief Near
"The present time is, in regard to
food conditions, the most severe we
have experienced and in the month OF
Julv has been the worst. Drouth has
DELAYED and want exists in many cases,
but I can declare with glad confidence
that relief will shortly set in and the
population can then be supplied more
adequately.
Nothing can yet be said about the
harvest, but the fact is already estab,
lished that the harvest of potatoes Will
be better than is believed. Straw IS
inded short, but the development OF the
kernels is excellent, and we shall, as
in 1915, reckon upon an average har-
vest. In wide regions of the empire
rain has fallen and everywhere IN time
| enough to bring potatoes.
"We hope for a good potato crop, and
if we utilize the increase from Ru-
mania and other occupied territories
carefully the shortage Of fodder with
which we should otherwise be confront
ed will be overcome. IL has been proved
in these three years, even IN the case
of bad harvest, as in 1915, that Ger
many cannot be starved out at all.
with rigid appropriation. limited ra-
tioning and an adequate supply, 1t gives
us an inestimable advantage over Eng
land. A painful experience in WIDE
areas has shown that on account or
war conditions relations between the
town and country populations become
source of trouble. Enlightenment
here is an absolute necessity.
Must Work Together
"Urban population must appreciate
the great difficulties under which agri-
culture suffers through war conditions.
On the other hand, the country popula-
tion must be made to understand thor
oughly how important industry in great
cities has been and is II that is done
a rapprochement will follow, and each
will do for others what he can and
II. :. IL. J,,y Tho ,rccasef,,l ey-