Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-16
GERMAN WAR AIMS
STILL WITHHELD
BY CHANCELLOR
Will Not Permit Himself to
Be Swaycd by Pressure
From Any Source.
TO ABANDON RESERVE
WOULD ONLY AID ENEMIES
Offers Peace to Russia if It Will
Rcnounce Plans for
Conquest.
SATISFIED WITH CONDITIONS
He Tells Rcichstag Military Situation
Is Better Than 1t Ever Has
Been Before.
SATISFIED WITH CONDITIONS
He Tells Rcichstag Military Situation
Is Better Than 1t Ever Has
Been Before.
IRy Associated prcss.l

| by Associated Prcss.l
BERLIN. May Is tvia London). In
of the most vigorous and plain
spoken speeches he has yet made be-
fore the RoichstaG since the outbreak
OF the war. the Imperial German
Chancellor to-day blunuy refused 10
enter into a discussion of Germany's
peace aims. as demanded lin intcrpclla-
tons by the Conservatives and Social-
lists. Dir. Won Bethnann-H ollweg as
serted that these called for the gov
crnment's specific peace program. the
announcement OF which would at the
present time not only be premature.
but which 1t would be difficult to
formulate. and also OF no tactical SER
vice to the nation in the present situa-
ton.
WILL NOT DE SwAYED
DY ANY PRESSURE
While apprcciatins the passionate
desire of all classes to know the gov
crnmcnts views, tho Chancellor plainly
declared that he would not permit him-
self to be swaycd by pressure from
any source. and that he was.not under
the spell Of any party or clique, Tie
best interests of tho nation, he he
licvcd, demanded that tho reticcncc he
of continuous clamor since December.
1918. should be observed by him until
the moment was ripe. He was sure
that such course would DO indorseh
by the nation at large, which con-
tinucd to rally around it's Emperor.
and would also meet the views Of the
majority OF the members OF the Reich
stag.
The Chancellor then briefly reviewed
the present military situation and Cor
many's relations TO the ncutrals, In
the course of which he warmly praised
the attitude adopted by Spain.
These interpretations demand from
me "a definite statement on the question
of our war aims" said the Chancellor
TO make such a statement at the
present moment would not servo the
country's interest. l must. therefore.
decline to make it.
PRESSED ON EVERY SIDE
TO STATE AIMS OF wAN
Since the winter of l9li-I5. have
been pressed now from one side. now
from the other publicly to state our
war aims. if possible. with details.
Every day they we're demanded from
me. To force me to speak. an attempt
was made to construc my silence re-
EardinS tho program Of the war aims
OF individual parties as agreement
Against that l must again rcsolutely
protest.
ON giving liberty for the free dis
cussion of war aims had It expressly
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 al
titude being drawn from the govern
ments silence.
now repeat this protest in tho
most conclusive form What | was
ever able TO say about our war aims.
say here in the Reichstag publicly.
They were general principles--they
could not be morc--but they were
clear enough to exclude Identification
such as was attempted with other pro-
grams These fundamental lines have
been adhered to up to to-day. They
round further solemn expression in tho
peace offer made conformity with our
allies OF December II. 1916.
The supposition. which has recently
arisen, that some differences of opinion
existed on the peace question between
us and our allies belongs to the realm,
OF fable. expressly affirm this now
with certainty am, at the same
iinis, also expressing the conviction
that the leading statesmen OF the
powers which are our allies are with
us.
ONLY GUIDING Lane
IS SATISFACTORY END
Fl thoroughly and fully understood
the passionate interest OF the people
TN the war aims ana peace conditions
understood the call for clearness
which to-day is addressed TO me from
the right and the left. tut in the
discussion OF our war aims the only
guiding line for me is the early and
satisfactory conclusion OF the war
Beyond that cannot do or say any
thing.
If the general situation forces me
to reserve. as is the case now. VIII
Keep this reserve, and no prcssure
either from Herr Scheidemann or HER
Rocsicke will force me from my path.
| shall not allow myself TO be led
astraS by utterances with which
Schcidemann. at time when drum