Evening journal., 1918-06-26
SEE Peace MOVE
IN KUEHLMAH' TALK
Officials Believe Germany
Seeks TO Treat With
U. S. and England
PREDICT SCHEME
WILL FAIL AGAIN

WASHINGTON. June 26.-Germany's
latest declaration Of war aims, as enun-
ciated IN the Berlin Relchstag by DR..
Won Kuehlmann, Minister for Foreign
Affairs, is regarded by officials here as
merely another phase in Germany's old
cycle OF military drives and peace Of
fensives.
In the official view, DR.. Won Kuehl-
m0nn's only new contribution was the
attempt 20 fasten principal responsible
ity for planning the war upon Russia,
the only great nation whose power has
been broken by the Teuton military and
propaganda machines. Since Germany
previously had contended that England
and to a lesser degree, France, were re-
sponsible for the hostillties, this move
by the minister only served TO strength
en- the belief that a main purpose OF
the speech was 10 invite peace prOpO-
sails from the West, although no men
tion was made Of peace negotiations.
The view here is that, having gotten
as far westward as the power Of its
army was able to reach in the last
drive, and fearing a substantial loss
Of the Italian territory occupied by
Austria as the result OF the brilliant
counter offensive by General Diaz, Ger
many was. renewing its old effort 10
hold It's ill-gotten gains by proposing
peace negotiations before the tide be-
gan TO set too strongly against her, AMI
at the same tome paClfy the uneasy
elements in Germany and Austria which
have been clam0ring for peace.
The attempt 10 hasten upon Russia
principal responsibility for the war
with the broad intimati0n that to Rus
STA must the Central Powers look for
compensation, instantly was interpreted
by Entente diplomats as designed to
encourage the pacinst elements in the
Entente countries TO hope for more
favorable terms Of peace than they
would otherwise have q right TO expect
and, OF course, TO weaken their own
governments by their agitation for a
negotiated peace.
With reference to the peace ques-
tlon DR., Won Kuehlmann quoted from
former Premier Asquith's speech Of
May i6 in which he said that the Brit
ish government would not turn a deaf
ear to a peace proposal II II was not
couched In ambiguous terms.
I'VE likewise can make the same
declaration" added the Foreign Sec
retary, knowing 1t to be also our
policy" =
"Once the moment arrives-when,
care not to prophecy-that the nations
which are at present locked In battle
will exchange peace views, one Of the
preliminary conditions must be certain
degrees OF mutual confidence In each
others honesty and chivalry.".
For so long" continued Dr.. Won
Kuehlmann, "as every overture is re-
garded by others as a peace offensive
-as a trap or as something false for
the purpose Of sowing disunlOn be-
tween allies: so long as every 0ttempt
at a rapprochment is at once violently
denounced by the enemies Of a rap
prOchement in the various nations, so
long Will it be impossible 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-
cludlng those from overseas. that are
engaged, its end can hardly be ex-
pected through purely military decl-
negotiations"
In discussing the situation In the
Near East, Dr.. Won Kuehlmann said:
I'm her advance from territories fall
ing TO her under the treaty Of Brest
Litovsk, Turkey. for reason Of safety,
pushed the left wing Of her advancing
troops into regions which occupied or
annexed. The chiefs Of staff have dis
cussed this matter and the Turkish
advance in the Causasus has stopped
DR.. Won Kuehlmann, referring to
the various governments formed in the
Caucasus region, said:
Turkey, in the Brest Litoval treaty,
having received the promise Of re-
gaining the districts which she lost in
1877 to the Russians found herself
Obliged quite recently by the strategic
developments in Upper Mesopotomia to
utilize the Batum-Tabriz-Julfa line OF
communication across the AderbiJan
region OF Persit TO the Tigris Valley
"These in brief" added the Foreign
Secretary, ARE our roughly sketched
aims. the realization Of which is alb
solutely vital and necessary for Ger
many"
Regarding Belgium. the Foreign Sec
retary said: 81,
I'VE must decline to make, as IL
were a prior concession by giving a
on the Belgian question
which would bind us without in the
least binding the enemy"