New-York tribune., 1918-06-26
airy, "knowing it to be afso our


/ care not to prophesy-that the ma
tions which are at present locked IN
battle will exchange peace views,
one of the preliminary conditions
must be certain degrees Of mutual
confidence in one another's honesty
and chivalry.
For so long," continued DR.. Won
Kuehlmann, "as every overture is
regarded by others as d peace often
sive, as trap or as something false
for the purpose of sowing disunlon
between allies; so long as every at
tempt at a rapprochement is at once
violently denounced by the enemies
@af rapprochement in the various
s.sou .sI.asountries, so long will it be impos-
sable to see how any exchange of
ideas leading to peace can be begun.
"In view of the magnitude of this
war and the number of powers, in
cluding those from overseas, that
are engaged, it's end can hardly be
expected through purely military
decisions alone and without recource
to diplomatic negotiations
Entente Idea of Victory q Dream
"Our position on the battlefields,
our enormous military resources.
the situation and the determination
at home permit us to use such Ian
guage. We hope our enemies per-
ceive that, in view of our resources,
the idea of victory for the Entente
is a dream"
Referring to Mr.. Balfour's speech, in
which the British Foreign Secretary
said that Germany had unclaimed the
war to achieve world domination, DR..
Won Kuehlmann said:
'I do not believe that any responsible
man in Germany, not even the Kaiser or
the members of the imperial govern
ment, ever for q moment believed they
could win the domination IN Europe by
starting this war. The idea of world
domination in Europe is Utopia, as
proved by Napoleon. The nation which
tried it would, as happened to France,
bleed to death in useless battle and
would be most grievously injured and
lowered in her development. One may
to him who sets Europe afre.'
Sat no moment of our later history
was there less occasion for us to start
or contribute to theAtarting Of q con-
fagration than the moment in which it
occurred. In former debate pointed
out that the absolute integrity of the
German Empire and its allies formed
the necessary prerequisite condition for
entering into a peace discussion or ne
gotiations. That is our position to-day.
Refuses Belgian Pledges
From England the reproach is con-
stantly made that we are not prepared
on hint from England to state our at
titude publicly on the Belgian question
On this point the fundamental views of
the imperial government differ from
those ascribed to US by English states
men. We regard Belgium as one ques-
tion in the entire complex. We must,
however, decline to make, as it were, a
prior concession by giving statement
on the Belgian question which would
bind us without in the least binding the
enemy.
"Mr. Balfour, moreover, by way of
precaution, has added that we must in
no way imagine that any agreement on
the Belgian question exhausts the stock
of English or Entente wishes. He
those points in which he intends to an
nounce more far-reaching claims or
desires"
"The supposition is not unjustifed
by previous experiences that while
these words, on the one hand, were
addressed to Paris, on the other hand
covetous desires foated across the
Mediterranean to the parts of Palestine
and Mesopotama at present occupied
by the British troops.
II hear already the justification
which will be duly given for such de-
sires, namely, that England could not
possibly make such sacrifices of blood
and treasure without reserving for her
self most of the gains.
GAS regards the probable course Of
events, the Imperial Chancellor and |
have previously declared that in the
present stage of development far
going advances, on the road to peace
can hardly any longer be expected from
public statements which we shout tt
each other from the speakers tribune
We, too, can adopt the words spoken BY
Mr.. Asguith."
In introducing his statement Of tn,
German war aims the Foreign Minis
ter said:
II consider it necessary to say quit
simply, and in way easy for all t.
understand, that our positive desire
are: We, wish for the German peopl
and our allies free, Independent exist
ence within the boundaries drawn 70
us by history. We desire oversea
possessions corresponding to our great
ness and wealth; the freedom Of tn
sea, carrying our trade to all parts 0
the world
German War Aims e
These in brief" added the Foreigl
Secretary, ARE our roughly sketche,
aims, the realization of which is abso
lutely vital and necessary for Ger
many"
Continuing DR.. Won Kuehmann said
Englands attitude in the days be
Tore the outbreak of the war wa
bound to strengthen Russia's desire 70
war. or this there are proofs enough
in the documents already published
On the other hand, Germany did no
for an instant believe that this wa
could lead to the domination of Eu
rope, much less to the domination o
the world On the contrary, the Ger
man policy before the war shove,
good prospects Of being able satisfac
torily to realize its essential aims
namely, the settlement of affairs in tn
East and colonial rrnhJars L,r