New Britain herald., 1918-06-26
'HER7L!NG OFFENDED
 IS MUM 0N PEACE ;
 Feels Abused Because Civilized World Considers Him Expert Liar STAGES CRY BABY ACT
Imperial German Chancellor Believes Himself Misunderstood and Refuses sation of HostilitieS.


 sation of Hostilities.
 ! Amsterdam, June 26-There will be no further discussion of President Wilson's four principles as a basis for general peace by Count von Hertllng, the imperial Gel man chancellor. This announcement was made by the chan- cellor in the Reichstag in the debate after the speech of Foreign Secretary avon Kuehlmann. Proposal of a league Of nations after the war is not looked on with favor by Count von Hertling, who intimated that such a league 1n1ght make it uncomfortable for Ger many.
 1T originally had no intention of taking part in this debate,' said the chancellor. "The reasons for my con- tempt and reserve are obvious, name fy the experiences I have had to- gether with my predecessors remarks in previous speeches.
 eff we spoke our willingness Cor peace that was regarded as a symp- tom of weakness and our immediately
 
 interpreted as crafty traps.
 Did we speak on the other hand, of our unshakeable will to defend ourselves in a war of conquest so criminallv thrust upon us, it was sald 4 it was the voice of German mllltarlsm to which even the leading statesmen must submit willy -nilly.
 CT went a step further on Febru- arv 24 and expressly stated my atti- tude toward the message of President Wilson in which he discussed his four points and gave in principle, my as- sent to them. I said these four polnts of President Wilson might posslply form the basis of a general world peace. No utterance of President Wilson whatever followed this. so that there is no object in spinning any further the threads there started
 There IS still less object after statements which have since reached fus. especially from America Ihese statements indeed made it really clear what is to be understood from peace league of peoples or league or peo- ples for the maintenance of freedom and justice.
 .a Our opponents made 1t clear they vould be the kernel of this league of peoples not be difficult to isolate the un- favorable upward striving of Germany and by economic strangulation to eX- tineuish her vital breath. l consld- cred it. as against this, quite proper that the foreign secretary make stoten1ent on the details of our pOlltl- eal nosition, in the east from Finland to the Black sea, and in my oplnlon he fulfilled the task thoroughly.
 "On the other hand, continued the chancellor some of his statements were given a more or less unfrlendly reception in wide circles
 The chancellor said he would not go Into the question of the responsibility for the war "There are already testimonies that Germany was not to blame he added.
 s'I feel obliged to clear away the misunderstanding which, it seems, we obtained in the interpretation of the second part of the state secretary statement, he continued. "The tend nncv of these utterances of the state secretary was purely to ascribe the re- snonsibillty for the continuation ana Immeasurable prolongatlon of thlS Terrible war to the enemy powers en- lively in the sense I had indicated on February t, LOT IL Soo9 'NAeAioo' S@'S lne that there can be no question of lessening our energetic defense or our ' uin. or of shaking our confidence ill victory.
 "No. as before. the ruler of the em- pire. the princess and the peoples stand closely and confidently together They trust in our incompafaple troons. our incomparable army lead DTS and our united people which are unshakeabiy standing together, and .,e may hope that the Almighty, who hitherto has helped us and led US from victory to victory, will reward th's faithful German people,
 The -emperors announcement was made after Food Minister Paul had reviewed the food conditions.
 Premier von Seydler proposed as his successor Herr Bahnhaus consld- p,.irc hirn a man who will be able to rely on a majority in parliament Fr,.;rg the transition period.
 Emperor Charles thereupon invited rJcr,. Bahnhaus to begin negotiations with the various parties on the basis nf the convocation of the chamber, with a restricted program for it's pro- cecdings.
 The council discussed the question of further measures against SLAVIC ~disturbers and examined the military situation, the adviccs add.