The sun., 1918-07-17
Won Hertlins and Won Kuehlma mn.

w uei SOuut NoN TlEHILiNo spohc
I'M the Reichstag on July IL, Herr Won
PAYER, the vlce-Chancellor, an
nounced that portion Of the address
would be confidential, and the men,
bers were pledged to maintain ST.
lence on those passages which the
Imperial Chancellor designated Us not
intended for publication. In the earli-
est reports Of NoN HERTLINa's utter
ances no mention was made Of Bel
GUM; but in an addendum published
here on Sunday he was quoted as
saying that Belgium was only n pawn,
TO be used In peace negotiations, and
that Germany had no intention of re-
tanning the country permanently.
This virtuous disclaimer. having
been circulated throughout the world,
and having been allowed to fake root
in such minds as are still hospitable
to the suggestions Of Prussian state
craft, was obviously intended to re-
feet on the Imperial German Govern
ment credit for magnanimlty. That
purpose having been accomplished,
another section OF the Chnncellor's
address, also referring to Belgium,
was allowed to become public. With
the passage originally released. this
may be taken as conveying the COM
plete thought which the Chancellor
conferred on the Reichstag. 1t reads
as follows:
ut was never our intention to keep
Belgium except as a pledge by which to
secure Germany against future peri!s.
and until the danger Is removed We can
not surrender our pledge.
an peace we must be guaranteed
against Belgium being used for ground
on which to deploy military forces. but
also from the economic standpoint we
must have guarantees against being
Isolated
1T must be made to the interest of
Belgium to secure close economic rela-
tions with Germany. Should Germany
succeed in attaining such an intimate
commercial connection. this would bring
about political agreement with Ger
many in which we should secure the best
guarantees against future perils from
England and France by way of Belgium.
This programme contemplates much
more than the temporary holding Of
Belgium as pawn. 1t looks toward
continued Industrial, economic and
commercial supremacy In that coun-
try that could not be set up or main
tanned without large degree of po-
litlcal power, possibly-even prob
ably-supported by military garrisons.
1t makes the original version of VoN
HERTLINo's speech as ridiculous rs it
was misleading. and all conclusions
based on the original account Of the
speech were manifestiS without merit
as they were found without adequate
information.
As VoS HERTIING's address fol-
lowed the. last appearance of VoS
KtHLMANN. and was largely influ-
enced by the late Foreign Secretary's
words to the Reichstng. 1t Is inter-
esting to recall what that functionary
said Of good faith on this historic
occasion. This is the sentence:
"once the moment arrives--when, I
care not to prophesy--that the nations
which are at present locked in battle
will exchange peace views. one of the
preliminary conditions must be a GER
tain degree OF confidence in each others
honesty and ch!valry."
Count Won HERTLISG, engineering n
great peace offensive" gives no sign
Of sharing DR.. Won KtHLMANN's opin-
ion. Can that be the reason why VoN
HERTLING remains in power, while
Won KtHLMASN has been ignoml-
niously expelled from office?