Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-10-24
M|L|TAR|STS HOLD
FAST T0NEW RIGHTS
Power of Peace or War Effective
After League of Ma
tons Forms.
CHANCELLOR GIVES VIEWS
No Thought Advanced of Retro
cession of Alsacc-Lorraine
to France.
CHANCELLOR GIVES VIEWS
tRy Associated presa.l

CoPEN A'G ~. October aS.-An-
nouncement was made by the German
Chancellor. Prince MaXimilian. OF a
bill making the Reichstag responsible
for war and peace, the measure to be-
come effective when the project for a
league Of nations should become oper-
ative. in his speech TO the ReichstaE
yesterday.
Speaking OF the powers 10 DC vested
in the Reichstag under the terms OF
the new measure. the Chancellor said
the bill provided for the compulsory
embodiment in the constitution OF the
fundamental idea OF tho new form O;
government. He said tho efec, would
be TO make the Re!chstag the peoples
house of represcntat.:c which should
be responsible "in the decision OF the
most important question for the nation.
namely, OF peace and war.
That means peaceful development OF
the empire and It's relations with othec
powers" he. continued. I'm such an
extension of the peoples rights the
imperial government is willing TO lend
hand when league Of nations has
taken practical form. When such a
ate treaties ! am confident that al!
agreements can be amplifcd in this
sense"
The Chancellor said the German ma
tion long had possessed political rights
which its mo ghbors envied. lie spoke
in praise OF the municipal and Reich-
stag elections. and said that although
the German people had not made use
OF It's power In dealing With vital ques-
lions. the development which had oc-
CURED at the ,..d OF September had
changed everything.
IS GUARA N'rt:Bs THAT NEW
SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE
Therein lies the guarantee OF the
continuance and growth of the new
SyStsm,' he added f-"-
This is a better and more real guar
anLee than any law CT paragraph"
The German people, he declared, must
not resort 20 foins nf government
which they did not In their hearts be-
lieve in for the sake of foreign coun-
The enemy is at our gates" he said.
After paying tribute to the men at
TO be found In ever. army, but the
Fundamental will of the peoples army
is opposed to them.A a.
9SfsSsr ssnia6s
icsbetf@liy those COZ; :
nected with labor troubles. street DEM
Of this nature was proposed by the
Emperor, and has now been applied"
Many persons had been set at liberty,
strong misgivinGs on sthe part of the
government, but the conviction OF
truStful policy deciard the matter"
In the course OF his address he urged
that debate on the situation arising
mse hT9 he and sTehanSs Of ss, Toss IT,
stricted as.n'uch, as possible. saying
the zsituatton was critical.
bss w5Sie the vsws ~ People Is anxious
regarding the prospects OF peace" he
sa I'D, but am able to speak only with
The members OF the Reichstag limit de-
bate. as is consistent with the seri-
ousnss Of the hour The whole Ger
President Wilson. and this fact gives
the utterances of the representatives OF
all parties added force
HAS BROUGHT NATURE OF
PEACE UNDER DISCUSSION
To-day. therefore. am going to
say only this regarulng the .interna-
tional situation: The Presidents first
answer, TO the peace move OF the Ger
brought the questions of a peace Of Of
highest point" he continues "Presi-
dent Wilson's last note did not make
clear to the German people how this
public agitation will end. His next
answer Will perhaps bring definite GER
thoughts and in our actions prepare
for both eventualities-frst that the
enemy governments are anxious for
for US but to put ourselves in a pos
ture OF defense with all the strength
Of our peopl; driven TO the last ex-
Should this necessity arise, have
no doubt that the German government.
In the name ans Of Of the German nI people. will
same way that it spoke for the Ger
man people when ii took action for
the basis s n pease VIII GGs also uner
take the duty CT not submitting to q
peace of violence without fight. The
would be left to the mercy OF the fight
ing and working people. IT would be
swept away by, public opinion.
The German people must not be biindiy
brought 10 the conference table. Tho
German people to-day has the right to
OF President Wilson's conditions what
they mean for our future. Our an
swers to the Presidents question must
derstanding of that question. What it
now wants Is clcarness.
The decision will be OF >stupendous
import. 1t Will not be our strength
that will decide, but 1t will be what is
thought 20 be rigl; In free discussion
our T5; s that w give the
proud people accustomed to victory!
The legal questions involved will not
stop at our national oundaries. which
for violence.
PRINCIPLES INVOLVE
INTERNAL QUESTIONS
The principles upon which we have
agreed as rule of conduct also In
volve internal questions. From many
quarters IL has been represented to me
that an acceptance of President will
sons conditions would mean submis-
submission - to an
anti-German court of justice which
would decide legal questions entirely
from the viewpoint OF It's own inter
ests. II that is the case. why then
is II the extreme apostles OF force In
the entente who fear The council cham
ber as the guilty fear tho court OF
Justice?
"The essence OF President Wilson's
program for league OF nations can
not be achieved when all peoples have
not the right of national eelf-determi-
nation. This realization Of community
law means the abandonment OF part Of
the unqualified independence which
hitherto has hecn the indication OF SOW
creignty, both by us aud others. Should
we at home maintain As fundamental
tho nation egoism which until a short
TIME ago was the dominating force Of
tContinued on Second PaGc.)
d