The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-03-04

'lcity of diplomatic agreements. I remind you of the fact that our defensive alliance witt Austria-Hungary has been known tc all the world since 1889, whilst the offensive agreements of our enemies have had 10 be disclosed during the course of this war. chiefly by the publication of the Russian secre documents. The full publicity alst given to the negotiations at Brest- Litovsk proves that we were in a DO. sition to readily consent to this pro- posal, and to declare the publication of negotiations as a general politica principle.
 2. The freedom of the seas Com. plete freedom of navigation on the seas in war and peace is also put for. ward by Germany as one of the frs and most important demands for the future. Here, therefore, there is nc difference of opinion whatever. The restriction mentioned by MT. Wilson towards the end is incomprehensibIt and seems superfluous. It should therefore be suppressed. It would however, be important in a high de. gree for the future freedom Of the seas if claims to strongly fortified naval bases on important sh1ppInE routes, such as England maintains a Bibraltar, Malta, Alden, Hong Kcng n the Falkland Islands and at many other points were renounced.
 8. The abandonment of all econom- 1 :c restrictions which hinder com- nerce in an unnecessary manner h condemn an economic war which would inevitably bring with it causes for future warli'ye implications. Limitation of Armaments
 4. The limitation of armaments. AS has already been declared by us or previous occasions, the subject of the limitation of armaments is a matter quite suitable for discussion. The if nancial situation of all the European states after the war should further its satisfactory solution in a most effec. tive manner.
 It will be seen that as to the first four points of the program agree. ment could be reached without diff culty.
 5. The amicable arrangement of al colonial claims. The practical car rying out of the principle laid dowr by MT. Wilson will in this world o1 realities meet with some difficulties In any case, I believe that for the time being it may be left to the great est Colonial Empire, England to de. termine with her ally regarding this i proposal. We shall have to talk abou this point of the program at the time of the reconstruction of the colonia | possessions of the world, which has also been demanded unconditionally by us.
 i 6. The evacuation of Russian terri tory. The Entente states having re. fused to join in the negotiations with in the period agreed upon by Russia and the four Allied powers, I mus decline, in the name of the latter any subsequent interference. The question here involved is one whicf alone concerns Russia and the foul Allied powers. I cherish the hope that under the conditions of the re cognition of the right of self-deter imitation for the nations withiH the western boundaries of the former Russian Empire, it will be possible tC be on good relations with these ma tions, as well as with the rest of Rus sia, for whom we urgently wish re turn of guarantees which will secure a peaceful order of things and tht welfare of the country
 No Discussion of Belgium
 '. The Belgian question. As far al the Belgian question is concerned has been declared repeatedly by m. predecessors in office that at no tim, during the war has the forcible an nexation of Belgium by the GerE:al Empire formed a point in the pro gram of German politics. The Bel gian question belongs to complicit, Of questions the details of which vii have to be regulated during the peac negotiations. As long as our enemie do net unreservedly adopt the atti tude that tke integrity of the territor, of the allies offers only possible foun dation for peace negotiations, I mus adhere to the standpoint which, III to the present has always been aken and must decline any drscuss;o1 0 the Belgian question until the gener al discussion takes place.
 8. The liberation of French terri tory The occupied parts of Franc are a valuable deed-pledge in ou hands Here also forcible annexation forms no part of the official German policy. The conditions and lnodallt1e of the evacuation, which must talk into consideration the vital int crest of Germany, must be agreed betwee1 Germany and France. I can only one |, can never be any question of the sep aration of the Imperial provinces. We will never permit ourselves t be robbed of Alsace-Lorraine by ou enemies under the preteXt of any fin Iphra ses-of Lorraine, which in the meantime, has become nor and more closely allied internally wit
 German life, which is developin
 more and more economically in
 highly satisfactory manner, en where more than S7 per cent. Of tn people speak the German mother ton gue.
 The Italian Frontiers
 g, 10, Il. The Italian frontiers. tn
 question of 'nationalities of the Dan
 be monarchy and the Balkan state:
 As regards the questions dealt Tit
 hy President Wilson under thes
 clauses, namely, the frontier question
 the future development of the Aus tro-Hungarian monarchy and the flu ture of the Balkan states, these em brace questions of paramount impor
 tance to the political interests of ou
 Ally, Austro- Hungary. Where Gerrna interests are concerned we will guar them to the utmost, but the repl tAto President Wilson's proposals i