Arizona republican., 1918-08-24
RUSSIAN POLICY |S
 DISCUSSED BY SOLF
 GERMAN SECRETARY
rEepubltcan A. p. Leased wlrel

NEDNDllCd0 "A. P. leaSen wire AMSTERDAM. Aug. 2l.-Dscussing -i rmany's Russian policy and the Brost-Litovsk treaty Dr. w. s. Wolf, German secretary of state for the col onies, is quoted from Berlin as fol- lows.
 The German government is fully resolved not to misuse the protection which has been asked for and which has been granted because forcible an- neXation would bar the way now open Go oppressed peoples-the road to free dom, order and mutual tolerance"
 Dr. Solf, who was speaking before the German society, continued:
 The imperial chancellor declared last month in the reichstag that we do not intend 10 retain Belgium. Belgium shall arise again after the war as an independent state
 Will Restore Belgium
 Nothing stands in the way of the restoration of Belgium but the enemys will to war"
 He declared thlt the German work ing classes were becoming conscious of the fact that the retention of Ger many's colonies was a vital question. He said that Germany desired to com promise regarding colonial questions on the basis that these possessions shall correspond to the economic strength of the nations.
 On this point Dr. Solf said
 "I dare say that the safeguarding of our colonial future is not only the aim of our government and certain groups of individuals, but a lively conscious ness now, extends far into the workers circles and the retention of our colo ,1 of Germany as great power. Our CO., lonial war aims are second to no other in national importance"
 Replies to BaIfour
 Declaring that MT. Balfour's accusa- tion against Germany demanded a re- ply Dr. Solf continued:
 MT. BalfOUr asserts that intellectual Germany is dominated by the mailed list doctrine. Here there are chauvin- istic jingoes people who worship the eternal yesterday and anxiously and without misunderstanding await the approach of new era.
 Before the war these people formed a small group without political influence on the government, which constantly combatted them. During the war, theiI number increased not because the struggle for Germany supremacy in the world had taken deeper root, but be- cause their ranks were swelled by mum. erous sober and solicitous patriots.
 Among these are many who before the war held high ideals about an un- derstanding of peoples, good will and fair play in international relations but whose political creed broke down un- der the experiences of the war.
 Where Blame Lies
 Where does the blame 1ie2 No. where but in the spirit which animate4 our enemes-that spirit which is z dishonor and has turned to scorn the grand ideal of league of nations by simultaneous demand for commercial war against Germany.
 If l believed that the spirit which at present seems to prevail in Englano and which speaks clearly in MT. Bal four's speech and which was mani tested against us in the Pemberton. Billing case-if I had to believe that this spirit would always have the up- per hand in England, then I would ad- Vocate that the war should be fought to the death.
 ''l am, however. firmly convince, that before the end of the war comes an intellectual revulsion nHIst and vii supervene against this knockout spirit otherwise the realization of leagu of nations remains Utopvn war aim
 Small Regard for Belgium
 Mir. Balfour first mentions Belgium How small a part regard for Belgium plays in the plans of the entente i most clearly shown by an extract iron the American press, which England minister of propaganda, Northcliffe printed with enthusiastic approval il one of his papers,"
 Dr. Solf cited a statement from tn New York Times that Germanys at titude toward Belgium was unimport ant as the allies would drive the Ger mans from Belgium and France ant quoted the London Evening News com ment on this that Germany must b destroyed by bloody and irreparabl defeats on the battle field"
 pr. Solf exclaimed: Thus speak tn protectors. who for the sake of Bel gium have drawn the sword"
 Balfours "Second Charge"
 Referring to MT. Balfour's "secon, charge" he said:
 This is directed against our east crn policy. To this I reply that tn Brest-Litovsk peace came about b, agreement between the Russian ant German governments that the frontie peoples of Russia after centuries O oppression should be permitted to liv their own national life, for which ob jcct they had been striving Thi agreement on the fate of the borde peoples is a fact of world importanc which never can be erased from his tory.
 Where They Differed
 "Not about the aim, but about tn ways and means leading to conferrin their own national life upon these peo pies did the Russian and German con captions differ. Our conception Wa and is that the path of freedom shal not lead through anarchy to whole sale murder. Between the first burst ing of the bonds and full capabilit of self-d determination of the borde peoples there lies a natural transitor period. Until the regulation force should cooperate in the various coun tries. Germany felt called upon to pro tect these communities in their owr as well as in the general interest. a indeed. she has been called upon to d by both national majorites and mi norities.
 "The Brest-Litovsk peace is framework and the picture which i to appear within is only sketched i rough lines.
 England forfeited the right to ac as moral champion of the Russia border states in their unparalleled tim Of suffering. During the war they re Deatedly appealed.
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