New-York tribune., 1918-02-27

his speech to the Presidents four prin-
ciples of peace.
The Central Powers intend to give
self government to the provinces OF
Courtand and Lithuania, tho Chanccl-
lcr declared.
Defends Attack in East
The operations of the Central
Powers in the East. he said. were be-
ing carried out with the sole aim OF
securing the fruits Of the peace with
the Ukraine. He added: 1--WE do not
intend to establish ourselves in Es-
thonia or Livona."
the Chancellor asserted the Central
Powers had freed Poland, with the in
tenticn of calling an Independent state
into existence. The constitutional
problem involved was still being dis
cusscd in its narrower sense, he said,
by the three countries involved.
Our war aims from the beginning
were defence of the Fathcrland. main
tenance of our territorial integrity and
freedom of our economic development.
said the Chancellor. Our warfare,
even where 1t must be aggressive in
action. is defensive in aim. lay
special stress upon that just now in
order that no Misunderstanding may
arise IN regard to our operations in the
East. Their sole aim is to secure the
fruits of our peace with the Ukraine.'
Following is full report of Chan
cellor Won Hertling's speech yesterday
in the Reichstag.
After few preliminary remarks by
DR.. Hermann S. Paasche. vice -presi-
dent of the Reichstag, and the first
reading of the budget, Count Won
Hertling arose and said:
Text of Speech
THE Reichstag has right TO re-
oeive an explanatory statements in re-
gard to the foreign situation and the
attitude of the government concerning
It, | Will meet the obligation arising
therefrom, even though | entertain GER
tain doubts as to the utility and sue
cess of dialogues carried on by minis
ters and statesmen of belligerent
countries.
"Mr. Runciman in the House Of Com
mons recently expressed the opinion
that we would get much nearer peace
IT, instead of this, responsible repre-
sentatives OF the belligerent powers
would come together in an intimate
meeting for discussion. | can only
agree with him that that would be the
way to remove numerous intentiona!
and unintentional misunderstanding
and compel our enemies to take our
words as they are meant, and on their
part also to show their colors. | can
hot, at any rate, discover that the
words which | spoke here on two oc-
tries effectively and without prejudice.
Moreover, discussion in an intimate
gathering alone could lead to under
standing on many individual questions
which can really be settled only by
compromise.
Position on Belgium
at has been repeatedly said that we
do not contemplate retaining Belgium,
but that we must be safeguarded from
the danger OF a country with which we
desire after the war to live in peace
and friendship becoming the object or
the jumping off ground of enemy ma
chinations. If, therefore, a proposal
came from the opposing side-for ex-
ample, from the government in Havre
we should not adopt an antagonstc
attitude, even though the discussion at
first might only be unbindng
Meanwhile it does not appear as if
Mr.. Runciman's suggestion has chance
of assuming tangible shape, and l must
adhere 10 the existing methods of
dialogue across the channel and ocean.
Adopting this method, | readily ad-
NIT that President Wilson's message
of February / represents, perhaps,
small step toward a mutual rapproche-
ment- | therefore pass over the pre-
llminary and excessively long declara-
tons in order to address myself i'm
medately to the four principles which,
IN President Wilson'S opinion, must be
applied in d mutual exchange of views.
Agrees With First Clause
The first clause says that each part
of the final settlement must be based
upon the essential justice. of that. par
tlcular case and upon such adjustments
as are most likely to bring peace that
viii be permanent,
"Who would contradict this? The
phrase coined by the great father of
the Church. Augustn, fifteen hundred
years ago. 'Justitia fundamentum reg
norum. Is still valid to-day. Certain
1T is that only peace based in all its
parts ON the principles of justice has
prospect OF endurance
ne second clause expresses the de-
sire that peoples and provinces shall
not be bartered about from SOVEREIGNTY
to sovereignty as if they were mere
chatteis and pawns in game, even
!he great game, now forever discred-
tied, OF the balance of power.
Second Also Indorsed
"This clause too, can be nncondi-
tonally assented to. Indeed, one won
ders that the President of the United
states considered it necessary to en-
phasize it anew. This clause contains
polemlc against conditions long van
ished views against cabinet politics and
canlnet wars, against mixing state ter
ritory and prncely and private prop
eer1y, ey, winch belong to past that is
90 not want to be discourteous.
uul When one remembers the earlier
utoeranccs OF President Wilson, one
might think that he is laborinf, nndnr
lhe delusion that there exists in Ger.
many an antagonism between an auto