Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-24
PEACE IMPOSSIBLE
FRENCH AIMS
Germany Will Never Consent to
Surrender Alsace-Lor-
raine.
MAJOR BASSERMAN'S VIEW
Insists Berlin Will Fight Even
Till Lost Colonies Are
Recovered. ~
MAJOR BAssERMAN'S VIEW

BERLIN. June 23.-Major Ernst Bas-
sermann. leader Of the National Liberal
published in the Vossische zeitunE,
takes the stand that peace is absolutely
impossible as long as France insists
on the return Of Alsace- Lorraine.
He also says the central powers will
continue TO hight until England is will
ing to return the German colonies and
Italy to give up her ideas of conquest.
NO German will tolerate Alsace-
Lorraine's coming under foreign rule
again" the Liberal leader declares.
THE two provinces are distinctly Ger3
man in character and language.
The fact that they were torn away
from Germany in 1851 by Louis XIV.
in one of his wars Of conquest, has not
made them French. The population
has remained German and could not
even be forced to adopt the language
OF the French conquerors. iFn
I'm 1870. when the provinces were
rcconuuered by Germany, SIS per cent
of the natives still spoke only German.
although they had been under French
rule 100 years. With the exception Of
n few small sections Alsacc-Lorraine Is
as thoroughly German the Rhine
Province, the Palatinate, Hesse or
Baden. ~
,,o,,n mr. cp,yp
AGAINST NATIONS
THE population is overwhelmingly
loyal to the empire. To turn the prov
inccs over to France again would be
the right of nations"
\ separate peace with Russia the
Liberal leader does not think probable.
but he considers the Eastern colossus
practically out Of the war.
England. France and the United
States. by lavish use of money and
promises. may succeed in keeping Rus
STA in line nominally, but from this
side VIC have little to fear" he says.
The Russian army is so completely
demoralized that it's reorganization, II
it is possible at all will take at, least
year. In the meantime the war will
be decided by our armies in the west
and our submarines. The military sit
uation is entirely favorable for us,
and we can never be starved out, nor
crushed economically"
The United States Basscrmann at
tacks bitterly. The war would now
be ended If America had not stepPed
in TO save England" he says. ITO
make possible the declaration Of war
desired by Wall Street. London and
himself, President Wilson recanted all
Of his former astounding phrases
about peace without victory and the
right OF nations to self government.
He now supports the British French
policy OF conquest and annexation un-
rescrvcdly and indorses the loudly
proclaimed intention OF our enemies
TO enslavc our nation forever.
Ills talk of n war for democracy
is the height of Hypocrisy Is Italy
democracy? or Siberia, Roumania,
Montenegro and even England. where
the land owning aristocracy has great
er power than in any other country:
"UnblushinGly, President Wilson de.
mands that we create system Of DEM
ocratic government which even tho
United States does not have. We are
| Ia make our ministers responsible to
Parliament, but so far have not heard
that this system is also to be intro
duced in America, where the President
! has more power than any autocratic
ruler in the world.
| ELECT REPRESENTATIVE
UNDER JUST FRANCHISE
Our national representatives are
elected under the most liberal and Just
franchise in the world and the anti
quated election laws of Prussia and
other federal states will soon be
| thing of the past. Like all other coun-
| tries, we need reforms, and are fight
in for h,,t che
| system of government ourselves and
| not tolerate foreign interference with
our iAtcrnal affairs.
England sacrifices millions OF men
| from all quarters Of the globe and
ruins one nation after another in her
attempt to make her world domination
supreme and permanent by destroying
! the central empires. but she will never
! succeed. the Liberal leader says in
conclusion.
I'VE were ready for an honorable
peace and asked nothing nut security
for the future. but as our enemies per-
sist in continuing the war with the
avowed sole purpose OF conquest. we
may feel ourselves justified in pursu-
ing like policy.
IF England persists in her refusal
to return our colonies. we will be COM
PEELED to keep Belgium as we'll as the
conquered parts OF France and Serbia.
Montenegro and Roumania may def
nitcly cease to exist.
Italy. instead of getting the Tren-
tino Trieste. lstria. Illyria and Dali
malta. may lose Nenetia.
I'VE will have German peace In
spite OF the entrance of the United
states" :.