Mexico Missouri message., 1918-03-14


Germany or her cohorts. To permit
Germany to seize the best provinces of
Russia would mean simply preparing
the German people for repetition of
their attack on the worlds freedom in
the future.
The speech Of Count Won Hertling.
German imperial chancellor, before the
reichstag, in reply TO President Will
sons most recent address before con-
gress regarding the war aims of the
United States. is not regarded by lead;
ers in the United States or England
az increasing the chance for peace
Count Won Hertling professed accept
ance Of the four principles of demo
cratic peace enunciated by President
Wilson and disclaimed any intention
Of conquest but these protestations
have not convinced President Wilson
and his advisers, ii is said, that Ger
many is ready to forgO ambitions of
conquest. Other parts of the chancel
lor's speech are regarded as conclusive
proof that Germany intends retaining
nearly all the foreign territory that
she now occupies
Count Won Hertling's reference to
Belgium is far from satisfactory.
While limiting that Germany does not
contemplate anneXing Belgium. the
chancellor proposes to impose condi-
tions which would restrict the freedom
% Of 1t n1 MI n a a 4
the mercy of the TeutOnic empire.
The entente point of view was ex-
| pressed by one distinguished diplomat
who declared that Won Hertlings
! speech has effectually closed the door
to further peace talk. Belgium is a
| question of honor" he declared. ut
cannot be discussed. So long as the
enemy refuses to do justice to Belgium
they cannot be expected to perform
| justice in any other instances"
While the lOng-distance debate be-
tween the statesmen of the belligerent
countries has been looked upon with
approval by leaders of thought in this
country on the theory that no chance
Of effecting a peace on terms accept
able to the allies should be overlooked,
at the same time there has been feel
ing that the continued peace talk may
have harmful effect upon the public
morale in the allied countries. There
has been determination in Washing
ton not to permit any peace discus.
sions TO delay war preparations for
one minute, and the only harmful eff
feet it is declared would be upon the
spirit of the people.
While there are still conflicting opin
ions as to whether Germany will un
dertake real offensive on the wesl
front this spring, reports coming in
directly from Germany indicate that
the German public is being prepared
for the tremendous losses that mus
result If such an offensive is attempt
ed. Dispatches from Stockholm de
clare that the German high command
has given the executive committee OF
the reichstag the confidential informa
ton that the contemplated offensive will
cost Germany million men. For this
staggering price, it is declared, Gen
? eral Won Hindenburg and General voI
Ludendorf have absolutely guaranteed
' success. Leaders of the majority II
, the reichstag are said to be reconcile'
to the offensive as the only thing lef
for Germany to do, but there is wide
: spread feeling of pity and horror tina
a million lives should be sacrifice
D when victory, however great 1t may be
r will not force peace, The Germans,
E is declared. at the most. expect tina
: big military victory will convinc
5 America and England that Germany
' unbeatable and to make the wester
. world amendable to suggestions for
+ peace conference.
a While the allied commanders realiZ
+ that the expected German offensive wi