The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-01-07

permanent peace can be erected on
such foundation" said the premier
Mere lip series as to the formula OF
mo annexation, no indemnity and self
determination is useless
"The days of the Treaty Of Vienna
are long past. We can no longer sub
4 nit the future of European civiliza'
tion to the arbitrary decisions OF a
few negotiators striving to secure by
chicanery or pursuation, the interest
of this or that dynasty or nation.
Therefore, government with the con.
sent of the governed must be the basis
of any territorial settlement. For that
reason also unless treaties be upheld,
i it is obvious that no treaty Of peace
can be worth the paper (which 1t is
written.
Restoration Of Belgium.
"The first requirements always
made by the British and their allies
have been the complete restoration,
political, territorial and economic, Of
the independence Of Belgium, and
such reparation as can be made for
the devastation Of its towns and prov
Einces.. It is no demand for war in
4 demnity but insistence that before
/ there can be any hope of stable peace
| this great breach of public law in
Europe must be repudiated and, so
! far as is possible, repaired.
Preparation means recognition. I'm
less international right is recognized
by insistence on payment for injury
,, done in defiance of it's canons, 1t can
never be a reality.
"Next comes the restoration OF
Serbia, Montenegro and the occupied
parts of France, Italy and Rumania,
the. complete withdrawal Of alien arm
les and reparation for injustice done
is the fundamental condition OF
permanent peace.
10. To Stand by France. :,
awe mean to stand by the French
democracy to the death in the de-
mand they make for reconsideration
of the great wrong of ~, when Al.
sace-Lorrainc was torn away. This
sore has poisoned the peace of Eur
ope for half century and until cured
healthy conditions can not be restor-
ed.
The rcemier said he would not at
tempt to deal with the question of
the Russian territories now in Ger
man occupation.
The Russian policy since the revolu-
ton had passed through so many
phases that it was difficult to speak,
without some suspension Of judgment
on what the situation would be when
the. terms Of European peace come to
be discussed Referring to the facts
that the war was started by Russia's
decision to protect Serbian indepen-
dence, and that the present rulers of
Russia had entered into separate
peace negotiation the premier said:
81 am indulging in no reproaches. l
am stating facts to make it clear why
Britain can not be held accountable
for decisions taken in her absence and
concerning which she was not con-
suited or her aid invoked
Prussian Designs.
"Nobody who knows Prussia and
her designs toward Russia can doubt
her ultimate intention. Whatever
phrases she uses to delude Russia she
does not mean to surrender any OF the
Russian provinces and cities now oc-
cupied. Under one name or another
they will henceforth be part of the
Prussian dominions, ruled by the Prus-
sian sword, and the rest of the Rus
SLAMS will be ,enticed or tbullied into
complete economic and ultimate po-
1it;oo1 onc1avnment
"Democracy in this country will
stand to the last by the demoeraeies
of France and Italy. We should be
proud to fight to the end side by side
with the new Russian democracy. So
would America, France and italy. But
if the present rulers of Russia act in
dependently we have no means to ar
rest the catastrophe. Russia can only
be saved by her own people.
"An independent Poland, compris-
ing all genuinely Polish elements who
desire to participate, is an urgent ne
:essity for the stability Of western
Europe. 4.-s .....1a
49, Austria.Hungary.
"Though we agree with President
Wilson that the breaking up OF Aus
ria Hungary is no part OF our war I
aims, we feel that unless genuine self
government on true democratic princl-
)les are granted those Austro-Hungar-
an nationalities who have long de-
sired it, it is impossible to hope for
he removal of those causes OF un-