The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-02-27
Hertling Says Germany Accepts
Wilson's Four Principles as
Basis for Peace Farley.
ONE CONDITION MADE
Declares All Peoples Must Endorse
Offer and That Goal of World
Arbitration Court Has Not
Been Reached.

Amsterdam, Feb. 27.-The imperial
German chancellor, Count Won Hert.
ling, speaking before the Reichstag,
made this declaration.
II can fundamentally agree with
the four principles, which in Presi-
dent Wilson's view must be applied
in mutual exchange of views, and
thus declare with President Wilson
that a general peace can be discussed
on such a basis.
only one reserve need be made
in this connection: These principles
must not only be- proposed by the
President of the United States, but
also must actually be recognized by
all states and peoples"
But this goal has not yet been
reached. There is still no court of
arbitration established by all the ma
tions for the preservation of peace in
the name of justice. When President
Wilson incidentally says that the
German chancellor is speaking to the
tribunal of the entire world, | must
decline this tribunal as prejudiced
joyfully as | would greet it, If an i'm.
partial court of arbitration existed
and gladly as | would cooperate to
realize such ideals.
fortunately, however, there Is
no trace OF similar statements on the
part of the leading powers of the
Entente. England's war aims are
still thoroughly imperialistic and she
wants TO impose on the world a
peace according to Englanad's good
pleasure.
Challenges Britain's Claim.
THE world is longing for peace,
the chancellor said, "but the govern
ments of the enemy countries again
are infiaming the passion for war
There are. however, other voices tc
be heard in England; 1t is to be
hoped these voices will multiply.
THE world now stands before |,
final decision. Either our enemies viii
decide to conclude peace-they know
on what conditions we are ready t.
begin a discussion -or they will con
tinue he insanity by their crimina
var of conquest"
lie continued: "Our people vii
hold ont further, but the blood OF the
fallen, tle 1gonies of the mutilateC
and the distress and sufferings of peo
nles will fall on the heads of those
Who insistently refuse to listen to the
voice OF leason ard humanity"
The Four Principles.
The four principles outlined b,
President Wilson in his address o
February Il, referred to by Coun
Won IIertling, the German chancellor
in his speech before the Reichstae
are:
First, that each part of the fina
| settlement must be based upon the es
sential justice of that particular cas-
! and upon such adjustments as ar
most likely TO bring a peace that will
! be permanent.
Second, that peoples and province
are not to be bartered about from
sovereignty to sovereignty as If the
were mere chattels and pawns in tn
came, even the great game, now fol
ever iiseredited, of balance of power
| but that.
Third, every territorial settlemen
invcl7ed in this war must be made Il
the interest and sor the benefit of tn
population concerned, and not as
part of any mere adjustment or com
! promise of claims amongst rivs
| states, ard
Fourth, that all well defined ns
tionsl aspirations shall be accorde
/ the utmost satisfaction that can b
accorded them without introducin
new oil perpetrating old elements @
discord and antagonism, and tina
would he likely in time to break tn
pesGe of Europe and consequently tn
peace of the world.
"A genral peace erected upon sue
foundations can be discussed. Unit
such peace can be secured we hav
no choice but to go on. So far as W
can Judge, these principles that W
regard as fundamental are alread
everywhere accepted as imperativ,
except among the spokesmen OF tn
military annexationist party in Ge
| many"