New-York tribune., 1918-10-07
The Very Least You Can 20 Is to Very Utmost
Text of German Chancellor's Peace Speech

- 0PGG(za
licvc the thoughts regardine; the fut-
ure wellbcing Of the nation which were
proclaimed by Mr.. Wilson are in ac-
cord with the general ideas cherished
by the new German government, and
with it the overwhelming majority Ct
our people.
$50 far as am personally concerned,
in earlier speeches to other assem-
blages, my hearers will testify that the
conception which l hold of future
peace has undergone no change since
was intrusted with the leadership Of
the empires affairs.
Seeks Honest Opinions
81 see, hence, no distinction whatever
between the national and international
mandates Of duty i'll respect of peace.
For me the deciding factor is solely
that all participants shall with equa,
honesty acknowledge these mandates az
binding and respect them, as is The
case with rne and with the other mem
bers of our new government And so,
with an inner peace, which my clear
conscience as q man and as z servant
cf the people gives me, and which rests
at the same time upon firm faith in
this great and true people, this people
capable of every devotion, and upon
their glorious armed power, await the
outcome Of the first action which have
taken as the leading statesman Of the
empire.
"Whatever this outcome may be,
know it will fDd Germany firmly re-
solved and united either for an upright
peace which rejects every selfish VIC
lation Of the rights Of others or For Il
closing of the struggle for life and
death to which our people would be
forced without our own fault if the
answer to our note Of the powers op-
posed to us should be dictated by n
will to destroy US.
Would Fight for Life
"l do not despair over the thought
that this second alternative may come
know the greatness of the mighty
powers yet possessed by our people,
and I know that the incontrove rtiblc
! conviction that they were only fighting
for our life as a nation would double
these powers. (Appiause.)
~ hope, however, fov The sake Of all
~
United States will receive our offer as
we mean it. Then the door would DC
opened to a speedy, honorable peace Of
justice and reconciliation for us, as
we'll as for our opponents"
The public crowded the Reichstag in
consequence of the reports that Chan
cellor Macmillan would make sensa-
tional speech, says & Berlin dispatch
dated Saturday. The Chancellor was
accompanied by Friedrich con Payer,
the Chancellor; Dr. Solf, Dr.
krauss, Count Won Roedern and Gen
eral Won Stein. all holding high posi-
tions in the government.
After the Chancellor's speech Herr
Fehrenbach, president of the Reichs-
tag, announced that the statement
would be the subject of discussion at
future sittings. Then, referring to the
peace offer to President Wilson, he
said:
"Pcace-what comforting word! 1t
would mean the deliverance Of human
ity from the torture of years. But
just as in the case of every single SOL
der at the front, so also every Ger
man at home is ready, if the case re-
quires, to make every sacrifice for the
Fatherland. May such sacrifices be
spared us, for the German people de-
sires peace, not war"
AMSTERDAM, Oct. 6.-The version
Of Chancellor Maximilians speech re-
ceved here says that the prince, in re-
! ferring to the message Of the King of
Prussia in promising a democratic
franchise, declared:
81 here unshakably adhere to the fed
erative basis of the empire as a Fed
eral state whose individual members
determine their internal constitutional
life in complete Independence right
to which Alsace-Lorraine also has a
full claim"
tention of the pacifists in the Allied
countries. No proposal directed to one
among the Allies can be entertained"