New-York tribune., 1918-09-26
Hertling Sees
u. s. 'Kultur"
Being Spread
Continued from page I

and justice, recently found it compati-
bic with those principles to recognize
tho conglomerate rabblc Of Czecho-
SloNaks as bcllgcrent power.
How will the German people have to
meet that? viii it, forsooth, beg for
mercy in fear and trembling? No. gen
tlemen, remembering its great past and
its still greater mission in the future,
it viii stand erect and not crnge or
grovcl.
"Thc situation is serious. but it gives
us no ground for deep depression. The
iron wall of the Western front is not
broken, and the U-boat is slowly but
surely fulfilling its task of fishing
tonnage, thus above all increasingly
menacing and restricting reinforce
ments of men and material from the
United States.
"As is known, the President of the
points the guiding lines for conclu-
sion of peace. On January "a of this
year ] discussed in your committee all
these points, and, regarding the last,
alked that the idea Of league of
nations as suggested had my entire
sympathy on the condition that an
honest will to peace and the recogni-
ton of the equal rights of all states
Of the league were guaranteed.
"How necessary was this reservation
was shown by the statements of our
enemies, who, in a league of nations,
thought of an alliance directed against
Germany and her allies.
"President Wilson in message on
February 2 february II p took a fur
thcr step in the same direction and laid
down four points or principles which
in his opinion should be applied in an
exchange Of views. In my Reichstag
speech of February 22 | declared my
self in principle in agreement with the
peace on such basis.
"President Wilson, however, has
neither then nor since taken any no.
tiCc Of it,
"Meanwhile, the former idcaist and
Jealous friend of peace seems to have
developed into the head of the Ameri
can imperialists. But the plan of a
league of nations yet to be established
IS not TO be discredited by such an
action. It has found eloquent advo-
Gates IN the Swiss Pre- esident and the
Norwe gian Premier Knudsen. both OF
whom dwell especially on the interest
of neutral states in such an institution.
also do not hesitate to express my
opinion again to-day on the question
and to indicate publicly the aim and
basis oil such an association. 1t is a
question of promoting universal, equal
and successive disarmament. the cstab-
llshment of obligatory courts of arbi-
tratlon, freedom of the seas, and the
protection Of small nations.
1.-The hour will come, as il must
come, when our enemies will see rea
son and be ready to make an end of
the war before half the world is con-
vcrtcd into a heap of ruins and the
flower of its manly strength lies dead
on the battlefield.'
Count Won Hertline said it was the
business Of the Germans to stand to-
gether cool, confident, unified and res
outc, with their one aim the protection
OF the fatherland. its independence and
its freedom Of movement. There was
no antagonism, he declared, between
the government and the people. The
former only desired to work with and
for the nation. Alluding to the differ
ence Of opinion on political matters.
the Chancellor said:
THE period after the war will also