Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-10-24
GERMANS TO PREPARE
FOR WAR OF DEFENSE
Prince Macmillan In Address to
TtcIchstag Says If Peace With
Justice" Fails Fight ON.

Justice" Fails Fight ON.
LONDON, oct 23-The Ger
man rcichstag, after a short de-
bate, adopted unanimously a res
Olutlon approving the statement
made to It by Prince Macmillan,
the chancellor. according to an
Exchange telegraph dispatch from
Amsterdam. The resolution disc
expressed confidence In the new
chancellor.
COPENHAGHN, oct. 23--Peace
conversations between Berlin and
Washington have reached critical
point. according 10 Prince Maximll-
Ian, the German imperial chancellor.
speaking before the reichstag yes
terday. In the course OF his address
he urged that debate on the sltua-
tiOn arising In exchange OF notes be-
tween himself and President VIII
son pc restricted as much as pos
sible.
THE whole German people is
anxious 10 hear the views OF the
government regarding the prospects
~ peace" he said, "but ! am able to
speak only with the greatest re-
serve and urge that the members Of
the rcichstaR limit debate. as is con-
sistcnt with the seriousness OF tho
hour. The whole German people
have been spoken to>by President
Wilson and this fact gives the utter
Ances OF the representatives OF all
parties added force.
To-day. therefore. am going to
say only this regarding the interna-
tional situation:
The presidents first answer 10
the peace move of the German gov
ernment has In all countries brought
the question of n peace OF justice or
peace Of violence to the highest
point President Wilson's last note
did not make clear 10 the German
people how this public agitation will
end. His next answer will perhaps
bring definite certainty. Until then
we must in all our thoughts and in
our actions prepare for both even
tualties--flrst that the enemy gov
ernments are anxious for war. In
which case there Is no choice for US
but to put ourselves in a posture OF
defense with all the strength OF our
people driven to the last extremity.
Hopes People VIII Rally.
should this necessity arise, l
have no doubt that the German gov
ernment in the name OF the German
people. will issue a call for national
defense in the same way that II
spoke for the German people when
II took action for peace. He who
honestly took a stand on the basis OF
peace will also undertake the duty
OF not submitting to a peace OF vlo-
lence without n fight. The govern
ment which would act otherwise
would be lett/to the mercy OF the
fighting and working people. II
would be swept away by public
opinion.
There Ia also another possibility.
The German people must not be
bllndly brought to the conference
table. Tho German people today
has the right to ask II peace Is real
lied on the base OF President Will
sons conditions. what they mean for
our future. Our answers to the
presidents questions must be framed
on the German peoples understand
ing of that question. What 1t now
wants Is clearness.
'"The decision will be of stupen-
dous import. II will not be our
strength that will decide. but II will
be what Is thought to be right In
free discussion with our opponents
that will give the decision. This Is
a great effort for proud people ac-
customed to victory! The legal Ques-
tion involved will not stop at our
national boundaries which will
of our avn accord be open for
violence
Internal Questions Involved.
The principles upon which we
have agreed as rule OF conduct also
involve internal questions, From
many quarters 1t has been repre-
scented to me that an acceptance OF
President Wilson's conditions would
mean observation-disclosures sub
mission--to an anti-German court OF
justice which would decide legal
questions entirely from the view
point OF its own interests. II that
is the case, why then Is II the OK
treme apostles of force In the en-
tente fear the council chamber as
the guilty fear the court OF Justice?
The essence OF President Wilson's
program for n league of nations can
not be achieved when all peoples
have not the right OF national self
determination. This realization or
community law means the abandon
mcnt OF part OF the unqualified in
which hitherto has been
the indication OF sovereignty. both
by us and others. Should we at home
maintain as fundamental the ma
tional egoism which, until n short
time ago, was the dominating force
OF the peoples life, there would be
no restitution and no renovation for
us. There would be "A feeling of
which would cripple us
for generations.
But II we comprehend the signlf-
iCancc OF this frightful war Is, above
all, victory for the idea OF justice,
and II we do not resist this Idea, but
submit with all good faith, then we
shall find in 1t n cure for our pres
ent wounds and reservoir of fu-
ture strength"
Ready for Emergency.
Prince Maximilian said that he
would not deny that heavy opposi-
ton in Germany must be conquered
before the ideal league OF nations
could be realized. but he continued,
whether the next few days or weeks
shall call US to fiHht on, or open
tho way to peace, there is no doubt
we are now equal TO the task of
either war or peace by carrying out
the governments program and def
initely breaking away from the old
system"
The imperial chancellor then dis