The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-02-26
Such Declared Germany's m
tention as to Provinces
CourIand and Lithuania. ).
WAR AIMS "DEFENslvE'
President Wilson and Officials
Study Speech.
Similarity in Chancellor's Atti-
tude to That on Other Oc-
casions Pointed Out.

Amsterdam, Feb. 26.-The central
powers intend to give self government
to the provinces Of Courland and Lith.
uania, Imperial Chancellor Won Hert.
ling declared in his address to the
reichstag yesterday.
The operations of the central powers
in the east, the chancellor said, we're
being carried out with the sole aim
of securing the fruits of the peace
with the Ukraine. He added: I'VE do
not intend to establish ourselves in
Esthonia of Lithuania"
The chancellor asserted the central
powers had freed Poland with the in
tention of calling an independent state
into existence. The constitutional
problem involved was still being dis
cussed in its narrow sense. he said, by
the three countries involved.
Warfare Defensive in Aim.
Our war aims, from the beginning,
were defense of the fatherland, main
tenance of our territorial integrity and
freedom of. our economic develop
ment," said tNc chancellor. Our war
fare, even where 1t must be aggressive
in action, is defensive in aim. ] lay
special stress upon that just now In
order that no misunderstandings may
arise in regard to our operations in the
east. Their sole aim is secure the
fruits of our peace with the Ukraine"
Eight Hours From Capital.
London, Feb. 26.-The workmen's
and soldiers committee for revolu-
tionary defense, according to a Reu-
ter dispatch, placed placards in Pc
trograd on Sunday, making this an
nouncement: "The white guard bands
OF Hoffman, and william, advancing
quickly by rail, have occupied Pskov
which is eight hours distant from the
capital"
Washington, Feb. Fisherman
Chancellor Won HertIins's speech to
the rsichstas was carefully studied
today by President Wilson and state
department officials without any Off
eiaI indication of how it was re-
earded, or that il would be made the,
basis for a further step in the presi-
dents custom Of discussing the sub
Ieet Of peace in tht open before con-
eress. Intimations that the president
would make it the occasion for an
other address Immediately found no
official support.
Other officials who read the chan
cellor's address closely thought it
served to emphasize a point made by
President Wilson in one of his earlier
addresses dealing with the peace aims
of the powers, that while the central
powers appeared to accept the gen.
eral broad altruistic principles for
which the entente allies and America
were contending, when it came to the
arrangement of details the central
powers appeared reluctant to apply
those principles.
To Create Discord.
They noted particularly Won Hert-
ling's references to Ireland, India and
Egypt and regarded it as calculated
TO create discord between the entente
allies and continue deception of the
German people, who apparently be-
lieve the military party is willing to
make peace without annexation and
indemnities.
Won Hertlings suggestion OF a con-
LrlSilSG VI IIlC OcliiSClcllS
meets with no greater favor than
heretofore and officials see not the !
slightest hope of a round table dis
cussion" in advance of complete ac-
ceptance by the central powers of the I
broad principles upon which the en-
tente is willing 70 consider peace !
terms.
Text of Address.
Full ~
Chancellor Won Hertling's speech
yesterday in the reichstag:
After a few preliminary re-
marks by DIR. Hermann S. Paasche,
vice-president of the reichstag. /
and the first reading of the bud /
get, Count Won Hertling arose and
said:
"The reichstag has a right to
receive an explanatory statement
in regard to the foreign situation
and the attitude of the govern
ment concerning 1t. i will meet
the obligations arising therefrom,
even though / entertain certain
doubts as to the utility and sue
cess of dialogues carried on by
ministers and statesmen of bellig-
erent countries.
"Mr. Runciman, in the house of
commons recently, expressed the
opinion that we would get much
nearer peace If instead Of this,
responsible representatives of the
helliSerent powers would come to-
gether in an intimate meeting for
discussion. can only agree with
him that that would be the way to
remove numerous intentional and II
un;n.entional misunderstanding
and compel our enemies to take II
our words as they are meant, and {
on their part also to show their I
co,ors.-I cannot at any rate dis 8
cover that the words which I spoke s
here on two occasions were re-
c7ived in hostile countries object
lively anc vithou. prejudice. More t
ovs-. discussion in any intimate
gathering alone coald lead to un- 7
dsrstaaiing ON many individual
questions vhicfi can really be set 9
tied only by compromise o