New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-02-28
GERMAN CHANCELLOR SPEAKS

GERMAN CHANCELLOR SPEAKS.
DR.. Won Bethmann-Hollweg, the
German Chancellor, in his speech be-
fore the Reichstag yesterday, pro-
fessed to know nothing of the causes
which guided this nation in the sever
ance of diplomatic relations with
Germany. mo authentic commun1ca-
ton about the. reasons which were
given for this step reached me- he
said. If that is true Germany is sure
Nv sore pressed for news. If that is
true it is no wonder the German
people, those who live in the domain
of Germany, are without good ad-
vices of what is happening in the out
side world. If the German Chancellor
is ignorant Of what is going on in the
world If he does not receive direct
information from the United States.
the German people who have not the
same means Of satisfying their intel
ligence know still less Of outside
affairs.
Yet, the speech of the German
Chancellor is not to be taken at it's
face value. There are many utter
ances in it that will not "check up"
If he reads at all he must have
known the causes that led up to the
breaking Of diplomatic relations be-
tween the United States and Germany.
m 70 r1o in,
dent Wilson's address to Congress, in
! Secretary Lansing's note of dismissal
to the German Ambassador, Count Won
Bernstorff. The message which Ger
| many promulgated on January 81 in
which it was announced that ruth
| less submarine warfare would be
! waged and all ships entering a certain
described war zone would be sunk on
sight was the prime cause of action
| taken by this government. BY the
very terms Of that announcement
Germany said it would violate the
pledges given this country in the now
| famous Sussex note with which
! readers or American newspapers are
| familiar. This country could do
nothing less than break diplomatic re-
| lations with a nation that announced
such wild program.
In making his excuses for Ger
many, the Chancellor shows he is
! familiar with conditions that are pre-
| yalent today. He knows what the
| actions of Germany have accom-
nlished in interference with the
| rights of neutral nations. He says
GAS is generally known, Germany
did not declare blockade but mere
" established definite barred zones
within which every ship has to coun
on being Immediately attacked Tha
isolated ships escape is self-ev1dent
but that does not change total sue
cess. That success we shall be able
to attain partly by sinking neutra
ships, partly by discouraging neutra
shipping, which has already hap
pened in the widest sense" Yer.
true. 1t might be added that thu
| neutralS are WOISS dC lIIC lol1u
of Germany than are the enemies o
Germany. America is but one of tbs
neutrals suffering from the barbara
methods of Germany. America sew
cred diplomatic relations because
America could not put up any Longer
! with a nation that has brushed aside
all the laws of civilization so that it:
own ends might be attained. Tha
other neutrals have not done the
same is accounted for merely by the
smallness of these other nations
They are afraid of Germany. Tlfi:
country is not The German Chancel
lor should know all the motives tina,
prompted this country to sever dip.
lomatic relations with Germany. II
he does not it is because he is IN.
willing to learn the truth.
s