New-York tribune., 1918-10-24
continued from Page !


governments are anxious for war, IN
winch case there is no choice for us
out 10 put ourselves in d posture Of
defense with all the strength Of our
people driven to the last extremity.
should this necesslty arise, have
no doubt that the German government
IN the name OF the German people,
VIII issue a call for national defence
IN the same way that it spoke for the
German people when it took action fov
peace. He who honestly took a stand
on The basis Of peace will also under
take the duty Of not submitting to a
peace of violence without a fight. The
government which would act otherwis,
would be left to the mercy of the
lighting and working people 1t would
be swept away by public opinion.
There is also another possibility.
The German people must not be blind
ly brought to the conference table.
The German people to-day has the
right TO ask, If peace is realized on
the basis of President Wilson's con-
dljlons, what they mean for our fut-
ure. Our answers to the Presidents
question must be framed on the Ger
man peoples understanding Of that
question. What it now wants is clear
ness
The decision will be of tremendous
import. 1t will not be our strength
that will decide, but it will be what is
thought to be right in free discussion
with our opponents that will give the
decision. This is q great effort for a
proud people accustomed to victory!
The legal questions involved will no.
stop at our national boundaries. which
We will never of our own accord open
for violence
Internal Questions Involved
"The principles upon which we have
argeed as rule OF conduct also in
volve internal questions. From many
quarters it has been represented to me
that an acceptance of President Will
sons conditions would mean submis-
sion--anti-German submission-to an
anti-German court Of justice, which
would decide legal questions entirely
from the viewpoint of its own inter
ests. If that is the case, why then
is it the extreme apostles of force in
the Entente fear the council chamber
as the guilty fear the court of justice
sIcx ,,,1i1 l,,+
would not deny that heavy opposition
in Germany must be conquered before
The ideal league of nations could be
realized but, he continued:
whether the next few days or
weeks shall call us to fight on, or open
the way to peace, there is no doubt
we are now equal to the task of either
war or peace by carrying out the
governments programme and definitely
breaking away from the old system"
Prince Macmillan said he hoped
soon to announce results Of prelimi-
nary negotiations to obtain legal ex-
tension of the Chancellor's RESPONSE
bility, to be secured by the formation
of a state tribunal.
1.-THE new SYSTEM" he said, Sin
wolves, as a natural consequence,
new mode of government in Alsace-
Lorraine"
The Chancellor declared it was the
aim of himself and his colleagues to
establish the political authority of the
German people. After saying that he
welcomed expressions OF opinion and
that he and his colleagues we're agreed
as to methods and purposes he added
''Our aim is the political authority
of the German people. This is the
guiding star of my collaborators and
myself"
Says People Are Rulers
The Chancellor said that individual
members of the government at first had
different standpoints, but had now been
brought nearer together.
"The German people has long been
in the saddle" he said. "Now it is to
ride.
"Our first and last thought is for
the brave men who are defending them
selves against superior forces and
whom we must defend against unjust
charges. No one must think he can
attack our army without also attacking
the honor of our people.
"The lot of our soldiers to-day is
terribly hard. They fight with anxiety
for the homeland and with their minds