Evening star., 1918-02-26
Russia Has Accepted Teuton
Peace Terms, Imperial
Chancellor Declares
AGREES WITH FOUR
AMERICAN PRINCIPLES
Must Be Recognized, However, by
All States and Peoples, He Says.
WORLD LONGS FOR PEACE
Kaiser's Chief Aid Declares Ger
many's Aims From the Beginning
Have Been Those of Defense.
By the Associated Press.

Have Been Those of Defense.
| By the Associated Press.
AMSTERDAM, February 26.-The cen
trail powers intend to give self-govern
ment to the provinces of Courland and
Lithuania, Imperial Chancellor Won Hert
ling declared in his address to the reichs
tag yesterday.
The operations of the central powers
in the east, the chancellor said, were
being carried out with the sole aim OF
securing the fruits of the peace with
Ukraine. He added:
eve do not intend to establish our
selves in Esthonia or Livonia."
Attitude as to Poland.
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 narrower sense. he said,
by the three countries involved.
Our war aims from the beginning
were defense Of the fatherland. main
tenance of our. territorial integrlty ano :,
freedom of our economic development !"
said the chancellor. Our warfare, even
where it must be aggressive in action.
is defensive in aim I lay special stress
upon that Just now in ordes that no
misunderstandings may arise.fn regard
to our operations I'm the east. Their
sole aim is to secure the fruits OF our
peace with the Ukraine&
Count Won Hertling anneunced that
the Russian government had accepted
added that the conclusion Of peace
si6ast ans
Stand on Wilson Policies.
Count Won fHert1ing made this dec
laration:
4 can fundamentally agree with the
four principles which. in President Will
sons view, must be applied in a mutual
exchange of views, and thus declare
with President Wilson that general
peace can be discussed on such basis
only one reserve need be made in
this>connection: These principles must
not only be proposed by the President
of the United States. but must also ac-
tually be recognized by all states and
peoples
But the goal has not yet been reached.
There is still no court of arbitration es-
tablished by all the nations for the pres
ervation of peace in the name Of justice.
When President Wilson incidentally says
that the German chancellor is speaking to
the tribunal of the entire world l must
decline this tribunal as prejudiced. joy
fully as / would greet it If an impartial
court of arbitration existed and gladly as
l would cooperate to realize such ideals.
Attacks England's Aims.
unfortunately, however, there is no
trace of similar statements on the part
lands war aims are still thoroughly inn
perialistic, and she wants to impose on
the world a peace according 10 England s
good pleasure.
when England talks about the people s
right Of self-determination she does not
think of applying the principle to Ireland,
Egypt and India.
do not contemplate retaining Belgium.
but that we must be safeguarded from
the danger of a country, with which
we desire after the war to live in peace
and friendship. becoming the object or
jumping-off ground of enemy machina-
tions If, therefore. proposal came
from the opposing side-for example,
from the government in Havre-we
should not adopt an antagonistic al
first might only be unbinding.
Small Step Toward Peace.
Meanwhile. / readily admit that
President Wilson's message of Febru
ary ii constitutes perhaps small step
| toward a mutual rapprochement"
With reference to a statement re-
Gently made by Walter Runciman. the
former president of the board of arri-
culture in the British cabinet. the
chancellor said:
II can only agree with AIR. Runcima n
| if he meant that we should be much
nearer peace if proper responsible rem
resentatives of the belligerent powers
would meet in conclaye for discussion
That would be a way to remove all in
territorial and unintentional misunder.
standings and bring about an agree
ment on many individual questions.
| am thinking especially in this eonnec.
| tion of Belgium.
"World Longing for Peace"
THE world is longing for peace" the
chancellor said. but the governments
| flaming the passion for war. There are
| however. other voices to be heard in
| England. 1t is to be hoped these voices
| will multiply.
| decision. Either our enemies will de.
| eide to conclude peace-they know or
what conditions We are ready to begir
| discussion-or they will continue the
insanity by their criminal war of con-
| quest.
| Our people will hold out further. bu,
| the blood of the fallen. the agonies OF
the mutilated and the distress an6
! sufferings of peoples will fall on the
heads of those who insistently refuse
to heed the voice OF reason and hu.
! manity."
Blame Placed on Enemy.
1 THE prospect of peace on the Who'll,
eastern front is now within practica
reach. The world, especially the neutra
lrorld, is asking if the gate is not opes