The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1918-01-31
GIVES ANSWER
TO U. S..TERMS
Count Won Hertling, in Reichstag
Speech, Replies to Pres
ident Wilson.

Won Herlllng eplleu 10 rEesiucht
Wilson's IA peace conditions as fol-
lows:
81 shall not enlarge upon the dis
torted representation OF German pol
icy which is contained in Mr.. Wit
sons message, but will deal in de-
| tail with the points which Mr.. Will
0 lays down there, not less than
IA points, in which he formulates
his peace program; and 7 pray your
indulgence in dealing with these as
briefly as possible:
Agree With First Point.
The first point is the demand that
there shall be no more secret inter
national agreements. History shows
it is we above all others who would
70 able to agree to the publicity of
diplomatic documents. recall that
cur defensive alliance with Austria
hungary was known to the whole
world from 1883, while the offensive
agreement of the enemy states first
saw the light of publicity during the
war, through the revelations of the
secret Russian archives. The nego-
tiations at Brest-Litovsk are being
conducted with full publicity. This
proves that We are quite ready to
accept this proposal and declare pub
icity Of negotiations to be a gen.
cral political principle.
I'm his second point Mr.. Wilson de-
mands freedom Of shipping on the
seas In war and peace. This also is
demanded by Germany as the first
and one of the most important re-
Quirements for the future. Therefore,
there Is here no difference of opin-
ion. The limitation introduced, by
Mr.. Wilson in the end, which l need
not quote textually, Is not intelligi-
BILE, appears s%uperfuous and would
therefore best be left out.
Point three: We too are in thor
ough accord with the removal of Geo.
nomic barriers which interfere with
trade in superfiuous me We
too condemn economic war, which
would inevitably bear within 1t caus-
es Of future war-like complications.
Point -FOUR: Limitation or arma.
'AAOLito 16 oAiCdug uCtIdlCu ny Us,
the idea of limitation Of ornaments
is entirely discussable. The finan-
cial position of all European states
after the war might most effectively
promote a satisfactory solution. IL
Is therefore clear that an under
standing might be reached without
difficulty on the first four points of
Mr.. Wilson's program"
Il now come to the fifth point.
settlement of all colonial claims and
disputes. Practical realization Of
Mr. Wilson's principles in the realm
OF reality will encounter some diff.
culties In any case. ] believe that
for the present It may be left for
England. which was the greatest
colonial empire, to make what she
will of this proposal OF her ally. This
point of the program also will have
to be discussed in due time, on the
reconstruction ef the worlds colonial.
possessions, which we also demand
absolutely.
Point six: Evacuation of Russian
territory-Now that the Entente has
refused within this period agreed upon
by Russia and the quedruple alliance
to join In the negotiation, | must in
the name Of the latter decline to al
low any subsequent interference. We
are dealing here with questions which
concern only Russia and the four al
lied powers. I adhere to the hope that
with recognition of self determination
for the people on the western frontier,
Of the former Russian empire, good
relations will be established, both with
these peoples and with the rest of
Russia. for whom we wish most ear
nestly a return Of order, peace and
conditions guaranteeing the welfare
Of the country.
No Designs on Belgium.
Point seven: Belgium-My prede-
cessors In office repeatedly declared
| that at no time did annexation of
belgium to Germany form a point in
the program of German policy. The
Belgian questions belong to those
questions, the details of which are to
be settled by negotiations at the
peace conference. So long as our op-
ponents have not un~reservedly taken
the standpoint that the integrity of
the Allies territory can offer the only
possible basis of peace discussion. I
must adhere to the standpoint hither-
to always adopted and refuse the re-
moval in advance OF the Belgian az
fair from the entire discussion.
Point eight: The occupied parts
| of France are a valuable pawn in our
hands. Here, too. forcible annexation
forms no part OF the official German
policy. The conditions and methods OF
procedure of the evacuation. which
must take account OF Germany's vital
interests. r to be agreed upon be-
tween Germany and France. I can