The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-26

to have the bill accepted, and to that end it would not hesitate to use any means constitutionally available. He begged his hearers to remember that this question was one of far-reaching alteration in the historical structure of the Prussian state, and that it would be unfair if the representatives of the old order were not given the opportunity of defending their standpoint in parliament.
 | There must be no question of procrasti-i , nation. the chancellor said, Should We, l however,v he continued. mot succeed in attaining our contemplated aim by par 1 liamentary debate, then another way in- | dicated by the constitution will be pur- l sued
 LEAGUE A NECESSITY Referring to the question of peace the | chancellor then said that humanity shud- ders at the thought that this war may bring others, and the question is begging the attention of more people as to the | possibility Of creating an organization l amongst peace-needing nations, which would set right in the place of might and peaceful solution instead of sangui- nary battles.
 The chancellor proceeded:
 | AS is known, the President of the United States laid down in If points the guiding lines for conclusion of peace. On January "A of this year, I discussed in your committee all these points, and re- lgarding the last demarked that the idea of a league of nations as suggested. had my entire sympathy on the condition that an honest will to peace, and the recognition of the equal rights of all states of the league, were guaranteed.
 | How necessary was this reservation was shown by the statements of our en- l en1ipS who in a 1a2 of nal thnl1eht of an alliance directed against Germany and her allies
 l President Wilson in a message on February (February 1l?) took a further step in the same direction, and laid down four points, or principal princi- |ples, which. in his opinion, should be lapplied among the others in an exchange of views In my Reichstag speech of February 2, declared myself in prin. Iciple in agreement with the possibility of discussing a general peace on such a basis.
 TAKES NO NOTICE
 President Wilson, however, has neith- CT then nor since taken any genuine notice of it.
 Meanwhile the former idealist and
 jealous friend of peace, seems to have
 developed into the headstrong leader of 1.-the American imperialists. But the plan of league of nations yet to be estab- lished is not to be discredited by such an action. It has found eloquent advocates
 in the Swiss President and the Norwe- gian Premier, Knudsen, both of whom
 dwell especially on the interest of neu. tral states in such an institution.
 T also did not hesitate to express my opinion again today on this question ant
 to indicate publicly the aim and basis oi such an association. 1t is a question o promoting universal. equal. and success sive disarmament, the Establishment O
 obligatory courts of arbitration. the free
 sn all nations.
 Regarding the first point on February 24, I described the idea of restriction 0
 ornaments as thoroughly discussable adding that the financial position of al the European states after the war woult
 give the most effective support to solution of this question SUGGESTED ARBITRATION Regarding this question of arbitration lmy standpoint has long been historical
 I will not go into details, but interestinl material which have before me, show that Germany in the past repeatedly sug gested arbitration of disputed questions
 the carrying out of which in severa
 cases, however, was prevented by oppo
 sition raised in Great Britain or Amer Iica If an international understanding could be reached that disputed question
 or Jaw between various states must al . l ways be submitted to arbitration courts and if this were made obligatory fo members of a league of nations, 1t woul
 undoubtedly be an important step to
 ward the attainment of the general aim
 More precise prescriptions. especially re garding requisite guarantees for the rec ogpition of verdicts made by arbitration
 need careful and thorough considera tion.
 II have expressed myself before thi
 on the question of freedom of the seas
 which forms necessary prerequisite fo the unrestricted intercourse of states ant peoples. Here, however, the greatest diff
 faculties, naturally are not raised ol
 our side. On former occasion pointe' out that there must be unhindered ac ) cess for all nations to the Inland Seas no predominant position of Great Bri tain at Gibraltar ahd Malta. and in tn l Suez canal. An English newspa per has called this unmitigated impu
 dence.e
 HAVE CLEAR CONSCIENCE Finally. there is a protection of smal