The sun., 1918-08-24
CECIL RIDICULES
SOILS SPEECH
ON ENEMY AIMS
Calls German Colonial Sec
retary's Effort a "Triak
Balloon" Essay.
SEES PEACE ATTEMPT
Points to Proof of Changed
Outlook Brought About
by Defeats.
SEES PEACE ATTEMPT
Special Cable Despatch to TIE SUS.

SpecIA CdoIe DeSpdsch 10 THE SCS.
Copyright. 1913; all riohfs reserved.
LONDON, Aug 23.-Lord Robert
Cecil, discussing with THE Sun cor
respondent to-day the recent utter
ances of DR.. w. s. solf, the German
Colonial Secretary, said he considers
1t merely a psychological trial balloon
essay, view which seems to be
shared by several German papers, in
Guiding Vor,cuerts, the Ta0ebldtt and
the Boursen Courier, which complain
that the speech Is unconvincing and
pointless. also that despite the sug-
gested lack Of influence by the PAN
Germans. the reactionaries and an
nexationists have steadily maintained
the appearance Of power. Lord Cecil
said:
What DR.. Soils speech intended to
convey is a plea for a German peace.
dictated by Germans. which will leave
the Belgian coast in their hands.
They will refuse to Join in any form
Of a league Of nations. Now, DR.. Solf
asks us to believe that he has been
converted to humanity and common
sense.
'The Allies could tell him that 1t
would be criminal not to attempt some
better international scheme than that
which now prevails. Not until Germany
has been decisively beaten in the field
will the Germans realize that their
whole military system has been one gi-
, gantic criminal error. Or. Solfs speech
Is very remarkable utterance in tone.
OF course. as all critics have pointed
out, 1t represents a considerable change
in German feeling. which is mainly di-
rected toward influencing American
opinion.
Begin to See Disaster,
"As usual the Germans have blundered
psycolcgically, but undoubtedly the
speech indicat that the Germans are
beginning to realize that the attitude OF
, the Germans can result only in III
innate disaster for Germany. The pam
Germans. DR.. Solf said, were a small,
| and highly influential body formed out
side Of politics for their own ends. put
had always in tho last resort dominated
German politics.
Or Solf's speech Is all the more as
! tonishing when the recent trend OF
German politics. particularly the kuhle-
mann speech. Is considered. The Gov
ernment was forced to explain away his
statements regarding Belgium IN order
10 appease the pan-Germans' ana only
Few weeks before the ioudiy oeomeu
Hernan democratic pohcy was Puashco
LOT 'he samet reason
! Dr' Dull statement conserving Del
sium 10 an advance 'o"aro oeoehe''
ne states 'hat 'he "erH'ah Snahcehor
oea!t receh'iy Win 'he matter III 'he
| heichstas when ne saio' belgium shaii
rise again ana DC 'assai u ho eouhuy'
"ha' phe Chahoeiior reany meant. now
| ever Is 'ha' belgium sha'i oe heio as
pawn ny Hefnia"S " DO e>e"a"seo ioi
soinelhihs' anu ~ DC eAeha"sea oh Suei'
| .e'"is ''"' Deis'u'ii WIN remain io'e'e'
III eiose eo'ii'ieieia' a'iiahoe Win oe'
MANY
| n,...
|
statement there Is no advance made in
the German proposals H. however he
INTENDS 10 restore belgium ana repair
the damage Germany mas innicted on
that country then let him say SO openly
to the whole world.
| Regarding the Brest-Litovsk peace
the ,ermaps have called into beinp MANY
sn,.,, s,.,a. ,,,h,c, th.,, say thsv ,n,.nd
si"ai' ao "" ~ 80" 80
10 occupy ohiy uh''i 'hese states nave
ent altogether from what the Germans