Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-04-04
NEW PEACE
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Continued from Page Ons)
the words out Of my mouth by declar-
ing that the four principles developed
in President Wilson's speech Of FEB.
II formed the basis upon which q
general peace could be discussed.
am in entire agreement with this.
| The four points laid down by the
| President are a suitable basis on
which to begin the discussion for 4
general peace. Whether, however, tie
] President will succeed in his endeav-
ors to rally his allies on this basis or
4 not, is question.
! God is my witness that we have
tried everything possible to avoid 4
fresh offensive, but the Entente would
| have it thus.
| Some time before the western Of
/ fensiye began, NJ. Clemenceau al
dressed TO me an inquiry whether ard
upon what basis l was prepared -
negotiate In agreement with Berlin
Immediately replied that | was pre-
pared to negotiate and that as far as
France was concerned the only ob
| stacle | could see in talk of peace
was the French desire for AlSacc-
! Lorraine.
The reply from Paris was that i
was impossible to negotiate on this
basis, thcreupon there was no choice
| left.
| The colossal struggle in the Yves:
has already begun. Austro- Hungarian
and German troops are fighting
shoulder to shoulder, as they fought
in Russia, Serbia, Rumania and Italy.
We are fighting together for the de-
Tense Of Austria Hungary and Get
many. The aspirations of France arl
Italy are Utopias which will be tcr-
1;bly avenged
Come what may, we shall not sacri-
! flee Germany's interests any more than
she will cave US in the iurch. We are
not fighting for ilnperialistic or terrific
rial ends for ourselves or for Germany.
but we shall go forward together TO the
last for our existence as state and for
our future.
The first breach in the wall Of our
! enemies for war has been made by the
peace negotiations with Russia. 1t is a
break through of the peace idea. 1t is
evidence of childish dilettantism to over
look the inner connection between the
various conclusions of peace. The con-
stellation of enemy powers in the East
resembled a net; when on mesh was
/ severed the others gave way.
The Ukranian peace led to peace
with Russia, and Rumania becoming
isolated was obliged to conclude peace.
We had TO begin with Ukraine both on
| technical and material grounds. The
future will show that the conclusion of
peace with Ukraine was a blow at the
rest Of our enemies.
'The peace concluded with Rumania,
it is calculated. will be the starting
point Of friendly relations. The Slight
frontier rectifications which we receive
are not annexations. Wholly uninhab-
tied regions. they serve solely for mill
tary protection. To those who insist
that these rectifcations come under the
category Of anneXations and accuse of
Inconsistency l reply that I have pub
licly protested against holding out a IL
cense to our enemies which would as
sure them against the dangers OF fur
/ Their adventures.
Prom Russia | did not demand sin
gle metre. but Rumania neglected the
favorable moment
Tine protection of mercantile ship
ping IN the lower Danube guarding
the Iron Gate is guaranteed by the ex-
tension of the frontier to the heights
Of Turnu-Severin by leasing for -
years valuable wharf near tins
town, together with strip along The
river bank at an annual rental of !.
/ thousand leu and finally by obtaining
the leasing rights to the islands rf
OstroNo, MarScOrbu and Simearu, an
the transfer of the frontier several
kilometres southwark in the region
of the Petriseny coal mine. which bct-
ter safeguards our possessions i'll the
SzurdokpaSS coal basin
'Nagy-SZeben and Fogaras will re-
ceive 4 new security frontier Of an
average width of from - to Is KID
metres at all passes Of importance ~.
for instance, Predeal, Hodz, GyimcS.
Bekas and Tolgyes. The new frontier
has been so far removed to Rumaniln
ground as military reasons required.
1.-The rectifcatiOn east Of Czerno -
itz has protected that city against
future attacks.
AT the moment when we are sue
cessfully endeaNoring to renew
friendly ana neighborly relations with
Rumania, it is unlikely that we would
open old wounds, but everyone knows
the history of Rumania's entrance
into the war will admit that it was
my duty TO protect the monarchy
against future surprises of a similar
kind | consider the safest guarantee
for the future, international agree
ments TO prevent war. In such asrer-
, ments, if they are framed in binding
form, should need stronger guaIan-
tees against surprise attackSk ~
reighbors than in frontier ractifiCa-
ton But thus far except in the
case of President Wilson have been
unable to discover amongst any Of
our enemies serious inclination TO &C
cept this idea. However, despite the
small degree of approval this idea
receives, | consider that it will neN-
crthclcss be realized.
Calculating the burdens which
the states of the world will emerge
from this war | vainly ask myself
how they will cover military expen-
diture if competition in ornaments
remains unrestricted. / do not be
lieve that it will be possible for the
states after this war adequately to
meet the increased requirements due
to the war. | think, rather, that fl