New-York tribune., 1918-12-12

w. Suederkum, n Socialist member Of
why the war must end and give them
both to understand that ans ther peace
resolution should be introduced in the
Reichstag, directed against both the
military party and the pan Germans.
Peace Efforts Rejected
"At this juncturc, however, the Ger
man armies began to win victories once
more and the Reichstag did nothing.
Thus we were badly situated. When
our chances were bad and the Entente
nations were elated they would not
talk peace. When we were winning
Ludendorff would not consent to per
NIT peace negotiations. l always
wanted to use victory as an oppor-
tunity to bring about peace, and sew
eral times had an impression that 1
might succeed.
a sent Count Mensdorff to Switzer-
land to see General j. {. Smuts, VINO
was in Switzerland last March in the
interests of the British government.
He succeeded. but ! was unable to tell
lust what terms Germany would make.
do not recall that Mr.. Lloyd George,
the British Premier, mentioned any
conditions last February. Germany as
sured me that no definite offers were
received from England, and l believe
this was true.
ENGLAND appeared intent to crush
Germany, and France showed similar
attitude. President Wilson was the
only head Of an Allied power who did
Il
Emperor William could not bring him
self to yield Alsace and Lorraine.
Says Kaiser Opposed War
"Regarding Emperor William I feel
that he did not want the war, but he
did not know how to get out Of it. In
this. | believe. the heads of the En-
tente powers ere wrong, for they prob
ably believe he caused the struggle.
was minister to Rumania when the war
began, and l honestly believe that no
one wanted hostilities to begin. |
have the impression that neither
Emperor Francis Joseph, Emperor Will
| lam nor their ministers wanted war. /
might explain the fact that war started
by saying that there was too much
diplomatic blufflng, with every one
looking for the other fellow to recede
! from his position.
< w
tried by us, excepting war with Ger
many. When one considers how much
weaker than Germany we were, he can
see how impossible it was for me to
dictate terms Now, if President Will
son finds it difficult to impress his
views on the Entente, how was it pos
sible for man like me to do anything
with Germany?
Pins Hopes to Wilson
II hope that an agreement to dis
arm will De reached. President Will
son is the man who is able to bring this
about. I believe his plan for league
OF nations is feasible and would solve
the whole problem. I have shown in
! public addresses why power to punish
any nation Tesortinr tc arms is the
only way to keep the peace.
II signed the peace t1eaty of Brest-
Lltovsk, but we got nothing from it.
This fact is worthy Of mention 1t was
Ludendorff VINO forced DR.. Richard von
kuehlmann, the German Foreign
Secretary. to make that peace We oc-
cupied the southern end of the line,
whereas Germany had her troop
against the line in the north. Genera
Hoffmann til IN declared he wou d move
on Petrograd if Leon Trotzky, the Bol-
shevili Foreign Minister, did not sign
the treaty.
DIR: Won Kuehlmann and had hoped
TO make peace with Russia on the basis
CT President Wilson's principles. but
Luder 'orff always teleg~aphed mo- &c
our proposals. worked dav and
:. eht to bring Dr. Won Kuehlmann and
lrotzky together
AT the last moment the latter scnt
his famous telegram to the world, de
mandlng chat the German people revolt
ana destroy their government This
telegram infamed Berlin, which de.
nounced Tro.zky as a man with whom
1t would not treat. Then Trotzky was
informed that the German troops would
occupy Courland and Lithuania, an6
would advance On Petrograd."