The sun., 1918-09-14
PEACE IS NEARER,
SAYS Won HERTLING


treaties in close harmony with the entire
people.
THE main thing for them in peace Is
not the ACQUISITION OF land. treasure and
glory: they aim nowadays at least at
the conclusion of lasting peace and
therefore there will be no peace Of con-
quest"
Herr Won Payer considered this might
mean disappointment and remuneration
to Germany's enemies which would be
almost equivalent to a confession of de-
feat, as they have MADE the destruction
and political shattering OF us and our
Allies their aim"
The Vice Chancellor said II was un-
| thinkable that Germany would con-
tribute to the restoration of the ''despotic
Russian Empire which. by its mere ex-
tfstence, always menaced the world
I'VE cannot hand over Poland TO Rus
| STA" he added. nor can we assist In
having Finland again placed under the
Russian yol1et We cannot leave 10 their
| fate the border States which lie on the
German frontier and the Baltic to be
| subjected against their will to Russian
| imperialism or thrown into the perils OF
| civil war and anarchy
Wants Colonies Returned.
| For the rest. the territorial possess
sions which existed before the war can
| everywhere BE- restored" the speaker
added "A preliminary condition for ue
and our Allies is that all the territory
! should again be restored which we pos
sessed on August l. 1914. Germany
must, therefore, in the first place. re-
ceive back her colonies, in which con-
nection the idea of an exchange on the
grounds OF eXpediency need not he ex-
| cluded."
I Il iei n
| understanding between Germany and
Belgium was easier because thef eco
nomic interests frequently were parallel
] and that Belgium was directly dependent
upon Germany rs a hinterlanc.
| 1T Is hypocrisy to represent Belgium
as the innocent victim OF our policy,
Herr Won Payer said, and to Clothe her
as it were. In the white garment OF in
nocence. The Belgian Government-and
| that is what matters. not the Belgian
| people--took an active part In Great
Britain's policy OF encircling Germany
There can he no question" he said
| "of our paying indemnitles. but only
whether we should receive compensation
for the injuries inflicted on us We are
deeply convinced that as the innocent
and attacked party We have n right &c
naturalization. TO so on prosecuting
the war, however, to that point would
COST us SuC1 nttNE SdCIllINtS' aoi'
by money. that we prefer. on calm re
Election. and even with our favorable
military situation. to abandon this idea
I'VE laugh at the idea that we should
<irst penitently ask for mercy before W.
are admitted. We laugh at the fool:
who babble of revenge.
Despite everything the peace treat,
will have purely positive contents. Thu
nations OF the earth cry out TO
preservation from the further misery o
wars, for leagues OF nations for inter
national courts of arbitration and agree
ments regarding equal disarmament
which cries the enemy. Government
Rave made their own and the fulfilmen
of which would not be wrecked by tn,
German Governments opposition. w
are. on the contrary, ready to collaborat
; to the best Of our ability"
| Won Payer said these ideas were no
new to Germany, and continued "W
desire to have a disarmament agreemen
on the condition Of complete reciproct!
applied not merely TO land armies bu
even to naval forces. In pursuance o
the same idea, and even going beyond II
we will raise in the negotiations a de
mand for the freedom of the seas ant
sea routes. for the open door in all over
sea possessions and for the protection o
private property at sea.
And II negotiations take place re
eardng the protection of small nation
and of national minorities in individual
states. we shall willingly advocate in
ternational arrangements which will &C
for deliveranCe in countries under Grea
Rritains domination"