Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-03-30
HOLLWEG SAYS IF
WAR DOES CONE
BLAME I11(!S.
Never n ghtest Inten-
tion of Attacking Amer.
lea and Has Not Now.
HE REVIEWS SITUATION
Asserts Kaiser's Government
Has No Wish for Hostii.
ties With washington.
NO HINT OF CONCESSIONS
HE REVIEWS SITUATION
NO HINT OF CONCESSIONS

Berlin, March 29.-(By Wireless to
Sayville. )-"Germany never had the
slightest intention of attacking the
United States of America and does
not have such intention now. 1t never
desired war against the United States
of America and does not desire it to-
day." was the declaration made by
the German imperial chancellor, DR..
Won Bethmann-Hollweg in speech
in the Reihhstag today
The chancellor made important
declarations concerning Germany's
policy toward the United States and
Russia. ~
Reviews the Causes.
"How did these things develop?"
asked the chancellor, in speaking of
the relations with the United States.
He then proceeded to answer the
question by reviewing the causes
which led up to the German use of
submarines in unrestricted warfare.
Declaring that Germany had un-
dertaken unrestricted submarine war
fare for its defense, DR.. Won Beth
mann Hollweg said:
'If the American nation considers
this cause for which to declare war
against the German nation, with
which it has lived in peace for more
than 100 years; if this warrants an
increase of bloodshed, we shall not
have to bear the burden OF respon-
sibility for it"
Says Germans Don't Want War.
Concerning German relations with
the United States, the chancellor,
whose speech is reported by the Over
seas News Agency (the German Off
cial news bureau), said:
within the next few days the di-
rectors of the American nation will be
convened by President Wilson for an
extraordinary session of congress in
order to decide the question of war
or peace between the American and
German nations.
Germany never had the slightest
intention of attacking the United
States of America and does not have
such intention now. 1t never desired
war against the United States Of
America and does not desire it today.
Expect Ions Disappointed.
"How did these things develop?
More than once we told the United
States that we madc unrestricted use
of the submarine weapon expecting
that England could be made to OBJ
serve, in her polsy of blockade, the
laws of humanity and international
agreements. This blockade policy
this l expressly recall has been called
illegal and indefensible' (the imperial
chancellor here used TIL English
words) by President Wilson and Sec
retary of State Lansing.
Our expectations, which we main
tanned during eight months, have been
disappointed completely; England
not only did not give up her illegal
and indefesible policy of blockade,
but uninterruptedly inten5ified it.
England, together with her allies, ar
rogantly rejected the peace offers
made by US and our allies and pro-
claimed its warfare which aims at Our
annihilation and that Of our allies.
Question of Responsibility.
"Then we took unrestricted sub
marine warfare into our hands; we
had to for our defense.
"If the American nation considers
this a cause for which to declare war
against the GermaL nation, with
which it has lived in peace for more
than 100 years, if this action warrants
an increase OF bloodshed, we shall not