Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-27
REF USES TO DEAL
With TRIBUNAL OF
WORLD POWERS NOW
Claims Such Body Would Be
Prejudiced, and Declines
to Accept It's Judgment.
/ FAVORS INTIMATE DISCUSSION
OF ALL POINTS INVOLVED
Hints misunderstanding Could
Be Removed if Response
bic Powers Met.
AGREES WITH ESIDENT
However, Imperial Chancellor In.
sists That Germany Is Fight
ing for Humanity.
tBy Associated Prcss.l

tBy Associated Prcssl
AMSTERDAM. February 26.--'rhc ccn-
IRA! l.)v crs intend to give Scif-Gover'i
io-It t. the provinces of CourlanJ and
Lhthuania. Imperial Chancc',3r Won
Hc-t.Irg declared in his address 10 the
He:ci.taG yesterday.
The operations of the central powers
in the cast tho Chancellor said. wcrs
being carried out with tho sole aim
OF securing the fruits of the peace
with Ukraine. He added:
I'VE do not intend TO establish our
selves in I;sthonia or Livonia.
The Chancellor assorted the central
powers had freed Poland with the in-
tcntiou OF calling an independent zsd5s
into existence. The constitutional prob
lem involved was still being discussed
in its narrowcst sense, he said. by tho
three countries involved.
DECLARES WAR AIMS
DEFENSE OF FATHERLAND
Our war aims from the beginning
were defense of the Fathcrland. main
tenance OF our territorial integrity
and freedom Of our economic develop
ment." said the Chancellor. Our war
fare. even where II must be aggressive
in action, is defensive in aim lay
der that no misunderstanding may
arise in regard to our operations in
tho east. Their solo aim is to secure
the fruits of our peace with the Tx
ra ainc.''
Following is Il full report OF Chan
cellor Won iicrtlins's speech yesterday
i'll the Reichstns:
After a few preliminary remarks by
DR. Hermann 5. Paaschc. vice president
of the Reichstas. and the first reading
of the budget, Count Won Hcrtling
arose and said:
The Iteichstag has a right TO receive
an explanatory statement in regard TO
the foreign situation and the attitude OF
the government concerning il. | will
meet the obligation arising thcrcfrom.
even though entertain doubts as TO
the utility and success OF dialogues car
ricd on hy ministers and statesmen OF
belltgcrent countries
REMOVE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
AROUND CONFERENCE TABLE
Mr.. Runciman in the House OF Com
mons recently expressed tho opinion
that we would get much nearer peace
IT. instead CT this. responsible rcprc-
scntatiNes OF the belligcrcnt powers
would come together in an intimate
meeting for discussion | can onlv
agree with him that that would he the
way TO remove numerous intentional and
unintcntional MISUNDERSTANDING and
compel our enemies TO take our words
as they are meant, and on their pari
also 10 show their colors | cannot ut
any rate discover that tho words which
spoke here on two occasions were re-
ccivcd in hostile countries obiectiveiv
and without prejudice. Moreover. dis
IN
alone could lead to understanding on
many individual questions which can
really be settled only by compromisc.~
WOULD NOT DE ANTAGONIsTIC
TO PROPOSALS FROM HAyRE
1T has been repeatedly said that we
do not contemplate retaining Belgium
but that we must be safeguardcd from
the danger OF a country with which we
"eSirc after the war to live in peace
ana friendship. becoming the object or
the jumping OFF ground OF enemy
machinations. Ii, therefore, a proposal
cam" from the opposing side, for ex-
small step toward mutual rap.
procurement. |. therefore. pass over
attitude. even though the discussion at
first might only be unbinding.
Meanwhile. Il does not appear as
II Mr.. Runciman's suggestion has
chance OF assuming tangible shape. and
must adhere TO the existing methods
OF dialogue across the channel and
ocean
Adopting this method readily
admit that President Wilson's message
OF February IL represents. perhaps /
small step toward mutual reap
rroachincut I. therefore. pass over
the preliminary and excessively long
declaration, N order 10 address myself
Immediately 10 the four principles
which. in President Wilson's opinion.
must be applied in a mutual exchange
OF views.
iGHEES WITH PRESIDENTS
FINDAMENTtL PRINCIPLES
The trst clause says that each part
OF the final settlement must be based
upon the essential justice OF that par