The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-06-26
GERMANY FEARS
FOR HER FUTURE
League of Nations After the
War Might Make 1t
Uncomfortable
Won HERTLING TELLS
THE REICHSTAG
Fault Because Wilson
Did Not Seize the
Peace Bait

Amsterdam, June 90. - There will b.
no further discussion of President vii
sons four principles of basis for gen
eral peace by Count Won Hertling, the
imperial German chancellor. This an
nouncement was made by the chancellor
in the Reiehstag in the debate after the
speech of Foreign Secretary Won Kuehl.
mann. Proposal of league of nations
after the war is not looked upon with
favor by Count Won Hertling, who init
mated that such league might make it
uncomfortable for Germany.
Il originally had no intention of tax
ing part in this debate said the chan.
cellor. The reasons for my contemplat-
ed reserve are obvious, namely, the expe-
riences | have had together with my
predecessors remarks made in previous
speeches. Our willingness for peace was
regarded as symptom of weakness and
our Immediately impending collapse. BY
Others it was interpreted as crafty traps
Did we speak, on the other hand of
our unshakable will to defend ourselves
in war of conquest so criminaliy thrust
upon us, it was said it was the voice of
German militarism, to which even the
leading statesmen must submit, willy
nilly.
Il went step further on Feb. "a and
expressly stated my attitude toward the
message of President Wilson, in which
he discussed his four points and gave, in
my assent to them ! said
these four points Of President Wilson
might possibly form the basis of gen
eral world peace. No utterance of Presi.
dent Wilson whatever followed this, so
that there is no object in spinning any
further the threads there started.
There is still less object after state. |
ments which have since reached us, espe-
cialty from America. These statements, |
indeed, made it really clear what is to be |
understood from peace league of peo-
pies or league of peoples for the main
tenanee of freedom and Justice.
"Our opponents made it clear they
would be the kernel of this league of peo.
,les and that 1t would in this way not be
iifiicult to isolate the uncomfortable up
ward strivings of Germany and by eco
ionic strangulation to extinglish her vi.
al breath.
81 considered 1t. as against this, quite
roper that the foreign secretary make
statement on the details of our politi-
al position in the east from Finland to
he Black sea, and in my opinion he full.
He'd the task thoroughly
"On the other hand" continued Count
'on Hertling, "some of hM statements
we're given a more or less unfriendly re-
option in wide circles" 1
The chancellor said he would not 90 !
nto the question of the responsibility {
or the war II
There are already testimonies that ]
'ermany was not to blame" he added
feel obliged to clear away the misun- |
erstanding which, it seems, we obtained e
/ the Interpretation of the second part 1
the state secretary's statement. The 2
,ndency of the utterance of the state t
,cretary was purely to ascribe the re-
for the continuation and i'm
easurable prolongation of this terrible
ar to the enemy powers entirely in the n
nse / had indicated on Feb. %, for it A
,es without saying that there can be no D
iestion of lessening our energetic de- n
nse of our will, or of shaking our conf
,nce in victory. Il
Now, as before, the ruler of the en- T
re, the princes and the peoples stand r,
osely and confidently together, and we m
ay hope that the Almighty, who hith- n
to has helped us and led us from vic
ry to victory, will reward this faithful
erman people"