The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-01-25
HERTLING HAS
FOUND HIS VOICE
(Continued from page /.

self entitled to judge the Germans
guilty of all possible crime. !,
1--WE cannot understand such reel
ings nor can we find in them any
proof of sincere will
Il acknowledge that President Will
sons tune is now different from what
IL was before his attempt by means
of the American reply to the pope 10
SOW dissension between the German
government and the German people.
"He no longer talks of autocratic
suppression of the German people by
the German government and his
former attack upon the HohenZollerns
is not repeated"
Commenting on President Wilson's
war aims speech, the German chan
cellor asserted:
ION the first four points an agree
ment is obtainable without difficulty,
On the fifth there will be some diff
ference. 1t chiefly concerns Eng
land, but President Wilson's propos-
ais could be taken into consideration
respecting the colonies demanded by
Germany.
1.-The sixth concerns only Russia
and the central powers.
THE seventh can only be settled
in peace negotiations, but Germany
has never demanded the incorpora-
tien of BELGIAN territory by violence.
On 60 efgEtn point -
does not wish annexations by VOL
ence but this is a question only to be
discussed by France and Germany.
; g: %:lEa5o:..S5er. we cas2s-.e: talk OF the
cessiofN of Alsace-Lorraine, eighty
speak German.
Nv, he Mt
Germany remains solidly with Aus
tria-Hungary.
"As to the eleventh point" Hertfing
continued, 'let the Austro-Hungarian
foreign minister answer President
Wilson thereon.
ION the twelfth, so far as it con-
Germs Turkey, we must not forestall
her statesmen's attitude as to hei
integrity. The German empire may
well energetically support her"
THE future of the Balkans Is OF
paramount importance to the polite
al interests of Austria Hungary"
Hertling declared. German inter
ests are also concerned. We will
guard them to the utmost"
LAS to the fourteenth point, Ger
many will be ready when all other
questions are settled, to discuss
league of peoples.
doubt has often arisen whether
the Russians are in earnest in their
peace negotiations. All sorts OF
wireless messages are going through
out the world, with exceedingly
strange contents, and these might
strengthen this doubt.
Nevertheless / hold fast to the
hope shortly to arrive at good con-
clusion with the Russians at Brest-
Lftovsk.
1--WE hope soon to conclude an
agreement with Ukrainia which will
be mutually satisfactory, especially
from an economic viewpoint.
Continuing, Hertling pointed out
that Alsace-Lorraine was originally
German in 1859 and that it had
merely been restored to Germany in
1871.
There are no differences between
US and President Wilson as to freedom
of the seas the German chancellor
asserted.
But it is most important for future
freedom of navigation that England
relinauish strong fortified points
d'appui on important sailing routes
such as Gibraltar. Malta, Hong King
and the Falkland isles
Restriction of military prepare
tons" the chancellor continued, dis
cussing President Wilson's demand
for limitation of armament, is open TO
discussion. The financial position OF
all European countries after the war
will probably work effectively for
satisfactory solution of this matter.
Reviewing German history, the
chancellor said:
THE Austro-German alliance was IN
tended to maintain peace. But the iso-
lation policy of King Edward (of Eng
land) made him dream of an unfriend-
ly coalition.
..In reality, the German empires
progressive and growing strength
stood in the way of British Imperial
ism. In the French lust for revenge
and in Russian aspirations for expan-
sion, British imperialism found ready
aid.
Germany was obliged to create an
armament for protection against her
future enemies"
In conclusion Chancellor Won Hert-
ling declared:
"a durable general peace is impos-
sible so long as the lasting integrity
of the German empire and the secur-
ity of it's vital interests is not in
sured."
Base for Negotiations.
THE HAGUE, jan 25-"President
Wilson's program contains many
points" apt to form the base Of peace
negotiations" declared German Chan
cellor Hertling in his address to the
main committee Of the reichstag, ac
cording to version reported in Ber-
lin dispatches received here today.
Notwithstanding our strong mill
tary and political position, Germany
is willing for peace" he asserted
Premier Lloyd-George's conditions
are absolutely unacceptable" the
German chancellor said, they are
badly masked annexationism."
Hertling voiced the hope Of success
in the Brest-Litovsk peace negotia-
lions.