The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-03-23
DEFENDS RUSSIAN CONQUEST
GERMAN CHANCEIJOR SpE>IEC
OF PEACE TREATY TO
RIICHSTAG.
Terms Imposed OH Conquered Country
Contain no DisgracefuI Conditions if
Provinces Breaking Away From
Old Government Find Them Acccp..
able.

Won Hertling, on the first reading in
the reichstag of the peace treaty with
Russia today, declared that he did not
wish to discuss the opinions of Ger
many's enemies regarding the treaty.
Hypocrisy" the chancellor added,
has become second nature to the en-
emy whose untruthfulness is made
worse by it's brutality Every attempt
at calm explanation and every real de-
liberation must fail when the enemy,
at the very moment they are laying a
heavy hand on a neutral country, dare
plete unselfishness.
1.-The treaty with Russia contains no
conditions disgraceful to Russia, if
the provinces breaking away from
Russia say it is in accordance with
their own wish and the wish is ac-
cepted by Russia"
| The imperial chancellor declared
that Courland and Lithuania were
united to Germany politically and eco
nomically and miltarily, and added:
| 'Livonia and Esthonia are the east
ern frontier fixed by the treaty, but
we hope that they also will have close
and friendly relations with Germany,
not, however, to the exclusion of
their friendly relations with Russia
Poland is not mentioned in the treaty
and we shall endeavor to see if it is
possible to live in stable and good
neighborly relations with the new
state.
III the reichstag adopts the peace,
treaty peace on the whole Eastern
front will be restored as / announced
February "a, but among the entente
powers there is not the least inclina-
ton to finish this terrible war The
responsibility for bloodshed will be
upon the heads of those who wish
continuation of the bloodshed."
The chancellor referred to Russia's
|
ter into the peace negotiations and
added: I'VE and our allies accepted
| the proposals and sent delegates to
, Brest-Litovsk. The powers until then
: allied with Russia remained aloof.
'"rhe course of the negotiations is
known to you. You remember the
j endless speeches which were intended,
not so much for the delegates there
assembled as for the public at large,
and which caused the desired goal of
an understanding to recede into the
distance. You remember the repeated
Interruptions, the rupture anG the re-
sumption of the negotiations. The
point had been reached where Yes
or No had TO be said, and on March
3 peace was concluded at Brest-
Litovsk. On March 8 it was ratified
by competent assembly at Moscow"
IF in the telegram from Washine
ton it was thought fit to express to
the congress assembled at Moscow the
sympathy Of the United States at
moment when,, as it says. the Germal
power obtruded itself, in order to
bring success to the battle for free
dom, then put that calmly aside with
the rest Un his message to the all
Russian soviet congress President
Wilson expressed the sympathy Of the
United States for the Russian "at this
moment when the German power has
been thrust in to interrupt and turn
back the whole struggle for freedom
and substitute the wishes of Germany
for the purpose Of the people of Rus
sia.")
1--WE have not for a moment con-
templated and do not contemplate op-
posing the justified wishes and en-
deavOr of Russia to be liberated. AS
] said on November 20, we desire for
that sorely tried land speedy return
to peaceful and orderly state of af-
fairs and we deeply deplore the ter
rible conditions which have made
their appearance in many places.
Among the entente" the chancellor
continued, there is not the slightest
intention to abandon the war but
rather the intention is manifested 10
continue this terrible combat till we
are destroyed. We shall not lose cour-
age on that account for we are pre-
pared for everything. We are pre-
pared TO make further sacrifices and
stand firm as a rock in our confidence
in our splendid army leadership and
our heroic soldiers"
Discussing the Russian treaty, the
chancellor said: