The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-07-13
GERMANY READY
FOR PEACE TALK,
SAYS HERTLMG
Registered U. S. Patent Offe,

LONDON. July 13.-Debate on the
general political situation was opened
in the Reichstag on Thursday by
Imperial Chancellor Won Hertling,
who discussed the retirement OF DR..
Richard Won Kuehlmann. the German
foreign secretary; the foreign policy
OF the government, and the economic
problems which had arisen because Of
recent Developments in the east
According to q German official
wireless message received here, the
imperial chancellor said:
at maintain the standpoint OF the
imperial reply to the peace note OF
Pope Benedict. The pacific spirit
which inspired this reply has also in
spired me. At the time. however,
this spirit must not give our enemies
free conduct for an interminable
continuation OF the war.
says President Wants Ruin
what have we lived to see, how
ever7 While for years there can have
been no doubt whatever OF our willing
ness to hold out our hand toward an
honorable peace, we have heard until
these last few days melting speeches.
delivered by enemy statesmen Presi-
dent Wilson wants war until We are
destroved. and what Mr.. Balfour. the
British secretary of state for foreign
AFFAIRS, has said must really drive
the flush of anger to the cheeks OF
every German
awe feel for the honor Of our
fatherland, and we cannot allow our
selves to be constantly and openly
insulted in this manner, and oenlno
these insults is the desire for our de-
struction. As long as this desire TOT
our destruction exists, we muet en-
dure, together with our faith1uI ma
ton
Ne Change In Policy.
ST am also eonvInced-I know It
that In the widest circles of our ma
ton the same serious feeling exists
everywhere. AS long as the desire
for our destruction exists We must
hold ont. and we will hold out with
confidence in our troops, In our army
and our magnificent
nation. which bears so wonderfully
these difficult times with their great
privations and continuous sacrifices.
ain the direction OF our policy MOTH
ing will be changed. II. in spite OF
these hostile statements by these
statesmen, any serious efforts or a
paving Of the way to peace were TO
show themselves anywhere, them quite
certainly, we would not adopt a mega
tive attitude from the very beginning,
but we would examine these seriously
meant say expressly seriously.el
forts Immediately with scrupulous
care.
Win Talk In GSmaII Circle"
Naturally, 1t is not sufficient when
some agent or other approaches us
and says to US; 4 can bring about
peace negotiations, then and there,
But 1t is necessary for the appointed
representatives Of the enemy powers
duly authorized by their governments,
to give US to understand that discus
sions are possible, discussions which
for the time being naturally will be
within = limited circle.
"But the statesmen who have spoken
up to the present time have noO SAID
word about such possibilities.
When such possibilities manifest
themselves, and when serious inclina-
lions toward peace show themselves
on the other side, then We Will i'm
mediately go into them. That Is TO
say, we will not reject them-and
we will speak, to begin, within
small circle
Agreed BY Army and Kaiser.
81 also can tell you that this stand
point is not merely my own stand
point, but that 1t is shared emphatic
ally by the chief of the army admin
istration-. The chief OF the army ad-
ministration also does not conduct
war for the sake Of war. but has said
to me that as soon as a serious de-
sire for peace manifests itself on the
other side we must follow II up.
You will be interested to know
how we are working on this stand
point, and certain problems will appear
which the present time forces upon