The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-03
German Socialists Aroused at
Kaiser's Peace Claims.
Denounced at Home by Press
and Reichstag Leaders.
HOLD HURRIED CONFERENCE
Emperor Calls War and POliti-
cal Chiefs Into Council.
Reveal EsNO Annexation" Peace
Offer Was Sham.

Z London, Jan. 3-The situation Gre
ated by the hitch in the Brest-Litovsk
negotiations, dispatches from Amster-
dam rejecting news from Berlin show,
has aroused the activities of the rulers
and politicians of Germany and Aus
;tria- Hungary.
Emperor William yesterday received
in joint audience Chancellor Won Hert-
ling, Field Marshal Won Hindenburg,
General Won Ludendorff, Finance Min
lister Won Roedern and Foreign Secre-
tary Won Kuehlmann-
: The foreign affairs committee of the
herman bundesrat, under the presi-
dency of Count Won Dandl, discussed
the Russian situation at the chancel-
1or's palace. Chancellor Won Hertling
had a long conversation with Won Tir-
pitt, the former minister OF marine
hnd Emperor Charles received in au-
dience Professor Kucharzevski, the
Polish premier.
s Foreign Secretary Won Kuehlmarn's
return to Brest-Litovsk after a hur-
sried visit to Berlin is said to have Gre
ated surprise as did his conference
with reichstag leaders who were sum-
moned suddenly.
Demand Reichstag Meet.
= Leaders of all parties We're present
at the conference, according to infor-
lmation in Amsterdam, and they in
Formed DR.. Won Kuehlmann that they
adhered strongly to the demand that
the reichstag be summoned as speed
ply as possible. 1t is expected that the
demand will be discussed at Thurs
days session of the reichstag main
committee, which Chancellor Won
fHertling will attend.
The feature of the conference is
said to have been the outspoken
speeches of Philip scheidemann and
Friedrich Ebert for the official
Socialists, and Hugo Haase for the
Independent Socialists. They are
scredited with having told Won Kuehl-
mann that his attitude in The Russian
negotiations was prejudicia1 to peace.
They told him that to say one day
that Germany wanted no russian ter
srftory ard say the next day that it
wanted virtually all territory occupied
by German troops justified entente
statesmen in declining to place conf
fdence in the word of Germanys lead
ters. The foreign secretary is said,
ehowever to have made complete ex-
plantations" 1t is reporte that both
Won Kuehlmann and Count Czernin,
the Austro- Hungarian foreign secre-
Stary, returned to Brest-Litovsk, where
ethey were expected to arrive yester-
Fday with new instructions.
Denounced at Home.
The Leips.g Volks Zeitung, the lead
ling Independent Socialist lewspaper,
commenting on the Brest-Litovsk stu
t@tlp anu the iClINltieS VI ION huenl-
emann and the government, says:
Germany now reveals her eastern
~peace terms. Everybody in Germany,
Russia and entente countries now
knows that she is not al ming at a
ejust peace without annex.tions and
aindemnities such as Won Kuehlmann
Sdepicted, but at peace providing for
AN enormous increase in German mill
stary, political and economical strength.
JThese intentions must strengthen the
rwar-will of the entente. Germany in
Gtends really to annex all the territory
she now holds. Her excuse that the
populations of these territories have
declared their Willingness to be severed
from Russia is untrue
individuals may have one so, but
ythey always have been irresponsible,
sacting on some German suggestion