TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1917-01-15
WHY FRANCES BILLIONS
WENT TO RUSSIA.

hN
was only partly published by the
local pro-BrItlst press which, wD cay
this again, does not treat It's readers
fairly and does not give them their
none 8 worth. The pro-Hritish press
has suppressed, az usually, just
those parts Of the statement In
question, which are vital and con.
vlncing, convincing in 80 far as they
eoncIuslVeiy show, that Germany ls
fighting a defensive war, pure and
simple.
Here is Or. Harnmann's statement
In full:
Berlin. Jan. 2.-By wireless TO
Sayvllle. -- The German impression
of the entente's reply to the peace
proposals of the central powers was
reflected today in a statement made
TO the sentofticial overseas news
agency by DR.. HaHrmann, who until
the turn OF the year was director
OF the intelligence department OF
the foreign ONCE. This comment was
not based on the ot1cial text OF tue
entente's note, az thus Tar only the
version supplied by the Hayas news
agency from Paris has been received
here.
Dr. Hammann, who coIlaborated in
the important work of the foreign
office last moath, said that con-
sideration by Germany and her allies
Of q peace offer dated back as far
as October. AT that time the inten-
ton was entertained Of making an
honest and sincere attempt TO pre-
yent further useless bloodshed.
Being asked as to the general i'm
preston created by the entente
reply. he said: If | am to express
an opinion in a few words, it is this:
Instead OF taking place around a
peace table, the entente's delibera-
tons took place on a judges chair.
Apparently the entente forgot moth
ing that could possibly influence
neutrals against u.s..
The point Of the accusation, how
ever. TO which the largest space Is
allotted ia the entente note, lis the
martyrdum OF Belgium. But II one
desires to pass Judgment an the
martyrdom OF Belgium, one must
speak before hand regarding neutral
and loyal Belgium, and this Belgium
bad ceased TO exist long before the
war. / do not want to speak about
the documents which we found in
Brussels und which have been
published. They can be read by
every body. | only wish to single
out one point which up to now has
not been sufficiently considered-the
report made by Baron Greindl,
Belgian minister at Berlin. dated
Dec. 2s, 1911.
This clearsighted statesman then
explained fUrclDly that already at
that time the entente q inspired
BY nothing but the one thought OF
enclrciIng Germany from the north.
AS proof OF TINS, Baron Greindl
quoted the cutlery started in Paris
and London a short time before
when the Dutch plan TO fUrtify
Flushing had become known. Baron
Grelndl then said:
~The reason why they wished that
the Scheldt remain without defense
was not concealed. In this they ad-
raitted theft purpose TO be abte 70
transport an English garrison to
Antwerp without hiHdrance, thus
creating Ia Belgium q basis for
operations In the direction OF the
lower Rhine and Bestphalia'.
Baron Greindl reported that the
plan was then changed in sncn a
manner that the English auxiliary
army raj not to be landed on the
Belgian coast but In the adjoining
French ports. This same plan OF
an English landing La order to
threaten Germany was equally limited
at as imminent by Lord Roberts
during the last Moroccan issue. In
such circumstances 1t most certainly
would 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,
In protest, march through the
country.
How little such action would have
violated the spirit Of existing condi-
tions may be understood IL one re-
calls the secret clauses Of the
treaties Of 1881. In them certain
agreements from former times were
maintained which reserve. as we'll
to England 40 to Germany, the right
TO occupy a Belgian fortress. IN
1887 a great English newspaper - If
arm not mistaken IL was the
Standard-stiiI declared that employ
meHt on the part Of Germany of the
right Of way through Belgium could
not be taken as in violation Of
Belgian neutrality
At this point the interviewer said:
I'm addition TO this question
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?9
In his reply Or. Hammann empha-
sized every word he said.
"No nation, declared Herr Ham
mann. is better able to understand
this principle than the German. for
no great civilized nation has suffered
SO much, has been forced TO struggle
80 greatly, because Of being sup
pressed and dismembered By
nefghboring races. Equally, no single
great nation has less to fear from
the application Of this principle OF
natIonalities than the German. Ger
many would absolutely consent II
s1Is principle of natlonaIities we're
carried out in Egypt, india, Morocco
Ireland, by the country h power. not
"a ersak af aussia,s nsxionallflee