New-York tribune., 1918-03-06
Hertling Speech
Finds Favor With
Lord Lansdowne
Marks Advance Toward
Peace Discussions,
He Finds
Wilson Stand a Basis
Formidable Obstacles Arise,
However, in Claims for Ter
ritorial Transfer

a short e1tract from the foNoac-
eng letter acas printed in late edi-
t'ohs Of yesterdays Tribuae.)
LONDON, March 5.-In the view OF
the Marquis of Lansdowne. express ed
IN letter 10 "The Daily Telegraph y
the recent speech of Chancellor Won
hertllng marks a perceptibe advance
IN peace discussions. Lord Lansdowne
thinks it all the more remarkable be-
cause the speech may be regarded as
a KIND OF rejoinder to the depressing
announcement recently made-some of
US think rather gratuitously-by the
Versailles conference"
Lord Lansdowne notes that the Ger
man Chancellor regarded the speech
made by Niscount Miner on February
Il as more concilatory than that made
recently by Walter Runcman, former
PRESIDENT of the Board of Trade. and
ne seems by implication to agree with
Count Won Hertling.
Four points of Won Hertline's snecch
are selected by Lord Lansdowne for
comment. First is the Chancellor's
wish for an intimate meeting Of the
Delllgerents. He interprets this to mean
small informal meeting. no. os oleni.
potentlarles. but of persons authorized
10 discuss contidentially the possibility
of more formal conference. He re-
fers approvingly to the opinion Of For
elgn Secretary Balfour that it would be
unwlse to begin negotiations unless
some preliminary agreement exists. ano
asks now such preliminary agreement
IS TO be reached without preliminar,
conversations.
Demands Too Extreme
Lord Lansdowne remarks that Allied
spokesmen now are sternly reprobatine
Germany's crimes and are submitting
demands which are not likely to be con.
ceded until Germany is beaten to hen
knees, while German spokesmen are
putting forward inadmissiblc demand:
ana impuflng selfish and aggressive
aims to the Allies. He continues:
in these circumstances it seems =,
hrst slght that there is nothing for il
put what Count Won Hertiing calls 'ad
herence to the existing method Of dia-
ogue across the channel and the ocean.
dialogues which, after all, may be use
full" '79
The second point is Won Hertling's
admission that peace can be discussed
on the basis of President Wilson'S fou,
principles. This, says Lord Lansdowne
Is satisfactory as far as it goes, but he
MAINTAINS that we are entitled to scru-
t!nlze the manner in which these prin-
clpIes nave been applied by GERMANY
bo
assurance that he would greet joyfullv
and cooperate gladly with an impartial
court OF international arbitration. Lord
Lansdowne says this statement NAV be
welcomed and recalls that Mr.. Balfour
made similar utterance.
Inc fourth point is Won Hcrtling's
lntlmatlon that Germany does not think
OF retaining Belgium, together with the
ohancellor's references to the Papal
note and to the utilization of Belgium
as jumping off ground for Germanv's
enemies. Lord Lansdowne admits ~ -
when read in the light of other German
utterances this leads to the Inference
that the Chancellor contemplated the
imposition upon Belgium of terms
winch would interfere with her inde-
pendence, but he points out that the
material passage in the Papal note
upon which Won Hertling apparently
relies, insists that Germany cvacuate
belgium and guarantee her full politi-
cal. military and economic indenend-
ence, adding that if such a guarantee
IS really all the Chancellor REQUIRES II
ought not to be difficult to satisfy him.
Hertiing's Meaning in Doubt
Let us hope" the letter continues.
that in the course Of the djalocr,,e
"nIch VIII doubtless be continued, he
Will tell US whether this is his meaning
or whether wholly different designs. not
limited IN the Papal note, were in his
NINA. This point requires clearing up.
because if Count Won Hertling's over
ture has been turned down, this has
been IN great measure due to the in
ternretation placed upon his reference
to Belgium. With an international
court in operation, there would not be
much Likelihood of such abuse Of the
neutrallty Of Belgium as Count Won
Hertling apprehends.r
Up to this point, Lord Lansdowne
goes on, he is unable to see whv init.
mate discussions cannot take place. fo,
there IS basic agreement. he saws
upon President Wilson's principles. the
hecd or an lnternational tribunal. and
aiso' ne believes, regarding Belgium.
re contends that treatment similar to
! NtHi4 t'b Iui belgium must be pX-
/ tended to the other areas occupiod nv
the Central Powers. However. he sees
formidable difficulties arising from
CLAIMS for the transfcrence Of terri
tories from one power to another sucb
as Alsace-Lorraine to France. parts of
/ Austria to Italy and parts of Turkey
1 10 Great Britain. He does not surpcst
that these are all on the same plaro,
put rather that all differ from anv
question Of restoration. and asss
whether 1t is not inevitable that ali
such questions shall be left for tho
maj peace congress, to which Prenior
Lloyd George suggested that the ouos-
ton OF the German colonies he snb-
mltted. suggestion in which. he saws
fresIdent Wilson apparently concurs.
Lord Lansdownc asks whether anv
one supposes these questions could he
settled while the war is raging and
whether anything more can now he
done than to lay down principles upon
"nich the peace congress would deal
with these matters. He raises tbo
question whether Improvement can he
made upon the principles which Presi-
dent Wilson has proposed. which both
SIDES apparently are not indsposcd to
accept. ~