The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-10-23

versations between Berlin and Wash ington have reached a critical point, according to Prince Maximilian, the German Imperial Chancellor. speak ing before the Reichstag yesterday.
 In the course of his address he urged the exchange of notes between himself and President Wilson be re- stricted as much as possible. ! The whole German people is anx- ious to hear the views of the govern ment regarding the prospects of peace" he said. but I am able to speak only with the greatest reserve and urge that the members of the Reichstag in debate, as Is consistent with the seriousness of the hour The whole German people have been spoken to bv President Wilson and this fact gives the utterance of the representatives of all parties added force.
 Today, therefore, am going to say only this regarding the international situation:
 "The Presidents first answer to the peace move of the German govern questions of 8 peace of justice or a . point" he continued.
 President Wilson's last note did not make clear to the German people how this public agitation will end. His next answer will perhaps. bring defi- nite certainty. Until then we must in all our thoughts and in our actions prepare for both eventual times--- first. that the enemy governments are anxious for war, in winch case there is no choice for us but to put ourselves in posture of defense with all the strength of our people driven to the last extremity,
 Should this necessity arise, I have no doubt that the German govern ment, in the name of the German people, will issue a call for national defense in the. same way that it spoke for the German people when it took action for peace. He waO honestly took a stand on the basis of peace, also will undertake the duty of not submitting to peace of violence without a fight. The government which would act otherwise would be left to the mercy of the fighting and working people. It would be swept away by public opinion.
  The German people must not be blndly brought to the conference table. The German people today has the right to ask, if peace is realized on the basis of President Wilson's conditions what they mean for our future. Our answers to the Presidents question must be framed on the Ger man peoples understandings of that
 
 clearness.
 "The decision will be a stupendous import It will not be our strength that will decide, but it will be what Is thought to be right in free dis cussion with our opponents that will give the decision. This is a great ef- fort for a proud people accustomed to victory The legal questions in- volved will not stop at our national boundaries which we will never of our own accord, open for violence.
 "The prinI ples upon which we have agreed as a rule of conduct also involves international questions.
 From many quarters 1t has been represented to me that an acceptance of President Wilson's conditions would mean rl--anti-German rsubmission-to an nti-ferman court Of justice which would decide legal !. questions entirely from the view N point of it's own interests If that is }the case, why then is itsthe extreme Eapostles of force in the Entente fear z the council chamber as the guilty fear the court of justice?
 "The essence of President Wilson's program for league of nations can not be achieved when all peoples have not the right of national self-deter- imitation. The realization of com munity law means the abandonment of part of the unqualified inJepend- ence which hitherto has been the in dication of sovereignty, both by Us and others Should we at home main tain as fundamental the national ego- ism which until a short time ago was the dominating force of peoples lirs there would be no restitution and no renovation for us. There would be e feeling of bitterness which would cripple us for generations.
 "But if we comprehend that the significance by frightful war, is above all victory for the idea of justice, and if we do not resist this idea with all good faith, then we shall find in it a cure TOT our present wounds and a reservoir of future strength
 Prince Maxinlilian said he would not deny that heavy opposition 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 fight on or open the 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 definitely breaking away from the old system"
 The Imperial Chancellor then dis cusses electoral and parliamentary forms. He contirued:
 Deputies will take part in the di- rection of imperial po::cy s.i.- .l t'.e name, of the chancellor will be respon- sible without being ministers Thus a new way is opened for arriving at responsible conduct of imperial af- fairs-the parliamentary way.
 We are convinced that it will SUD- ply not only the government, but in directly parliament. with precious forces from the people which hitherto have not been utilized"
 Prince Max said he honed soon to
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