Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-01-03
Official Statement, WireIessed
From Berlin Pleads JuStifi-
cation of Kaiser's Actions
Toward World,
TEUT0NS MOST CRUELTY
TREATED, SAYS OFFICIAL
NeighborS Have Endeavored
to EncircIe Fathefand; Bel
GUM Used as CatSpaw by
Great Britain
icy MORNING 1ovsa.L SPECIAL lr.ssp wissi

icy MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEassp wiHsi
Berlin. Jan. tWireless TO Say
villel 1.-The German impression OF
the entente's reply to the peace pro-
posals of the central powers was re-
Elected today in a statement made to
the semi-official Overseas News
agency by DR.. Hammann, who until
the turn of the year was director of
the intelligence department of the
foreign office, This comment was
not based on the official text of the
entente's note, as thus far only the
version supplied by the Havas News
agency from Paris has been received
here.
DR.. Hammann said that considera-
ton by Germany and her allies of q
peace offer dated back as far as Oc-
tober. At that time the intention
was entertained of making an honest
and sincere attempt to prevent further
useless bloodshed. Being asked as to
the general impression created by the
entente reply. he said:
Blames Judgment of Allies.
'If | am to express an opinion in
a few words, 1t is this: Instead of
the entente's deliberations took place
on a judges chair, Apparently the
entente forgot nothing that could
possibly influence neutrals against
us.
THE point OF the accusation, how
ever to which the largest space Is
allotted in the entente note is the
martyrdom of Belgium. But II one
desires to pass judgment on the
martyr dom Of Belgium, one must
speak beforehand regarding neutral
and loyal Belgium, and this Belgium
had ceased to exist long before the
war In this connection, | wish to
single out one point which, up to
now. has not been sufficiently con-
sidered-the report made by Baron
Greindl. Belgian minister at Berlin,
dated December 2S, 1911.
Wished to Encirclc Germany.
This clear-sighted statesman then
explained forcibly that already at
that time the entente was inspired by
nothing but the one thought of en-
circling Germany from the north. AS
proof of this, Baron Greindl quoted
the outcry started IN Paris and Lon
don short time before when the
Dutch plan to fortlfy Flushing had
become known. Baron Greindl then
said:
The reason why they wished that
the Schedt remain without defense
was not concealed. In this they ad-
mitted their purpose to be able to
transport an English garrison to
Antwerp without hindrance. thus cree
ating in Belgium n basis for opera
tions in the direction of the lower
Rhine and Westphalia.'
What Belgium should Have Done.
Baron Greindl reported that the
plan was then changed in such q
manner that the English auxiliary
army was not to be landed on the
Belgian coast but In the adjoining
French ports. This same plan of an
English landing in order to threaten
Germany was equally limited at as
imminent by Lord Roberts during
the last Moroccan crisis. In such
circumstances 1t most certainly VIC d
have been an easy thing for Belgium,
after the German question in 1914
(whether Belgium would permit the
passage of German troops) to take
her armies back to Antwerp and
then let the Germans, under protest,
march through the country"
Old Treaty Is Cited.
How little such action would have
violated the spirit of existing condi-
tions may be understood if one re-
calls the secret clauses of the treaties
of 1881. In them certain agreements
from former times were maintained
which reserve, as well to England as
to Germany, the right to occupy
Belgian fortress In 1887 a great
,,l, \ ,tel.
taken, it was the Standard-still de-
clared that employment on the part
of Germany of the right of way
as in violation of Belgian neutrality"
At this point the interviewer said:
"In addition to this. the question
of the principle of nationality PLAYS
a large part in the answer of the
entente. What Importance must be
attributed to this principle in the
present situation?"
Germany Badly Treated.
In his reply Director Hammann
emphasized every word.
.No nation" hg said, us better
able to understand this principle than
Germa6 for no great civilized ma
ton hs suffered so much, has been
forced TO struggle so greatly because
of being suppressed and dismem mbered
by neighborins races, Equally, no
single great nation has less to fear
from the application of this principle
of nationalities than the German.
Germany would absolutely y~consent, IL
this principle of nationalities were al
ready carried out in Egypt, India,
Morocco and Ireland by the country
in power, not to speak of Russia's
nationalities.
Germany has been brutally treated
for centuries by her neighbors, despite