Omaha daily bee., 1918-02-27

, The chancellor asserted the central
powers had freed Poland with the in
tention Of calling an independent state
into existence. The constitutional
problem involved was still being dis
cussed in its narrower sense, he said,
by the three countries involved.
"Our war aims from the beginning
were the defense of the fatherland,
maintenance of our territorial integ-
rity and freedom of our economic de-
velopment," said the chancellor.
"Our warfare, even where it must
be aggressive in action, is defensive
in aim. I lay special stress upon that
just now in order that no fnisundcr-
standings may arise in regard to our
operations in the east"
SAYS RUSS WILL FIGHT.
London, Feb. 26--The signing of a
Russo German peace will not be the
final solution of the German problem
on its eastern frontier and the final
settlement will come when the peo-
pies of Courland, Esthonia, Livonia
and Poland take matters into their
own hands, according to M. Kameneff.
one OF the Bolsheviki delegates to the
Brest- -Litovsk negotiations, in an in
terview in the Daily News.
M. Kamenef arrived in London
after a three weeks journey from Pet
rograd. He is on his way to Paris
as the Bolsheviki plenipotentiary to
France.
With the handing over of the land
and factories to the peasants and
workers, M. Kameneff said, they had
begun to realize, as they could not
under the old regime, that German
invasion of Russia would injure their
vital interests. Consequently the con-
sciousness of the necessity of defend
ing the country was growing among
the Russians.
M. Kamenef said he was convinced
the Germans would be unable to i'm
port food from the Ukraine because
the people there would prevent tho
Rada from fulfilling the promise given
Germany. ..... .-...
The Rada's invocation of German
aid had raised bitter hatred among
the Ukrainian workers and peasants,
who recognize only the authority oi
the workmen's and soldiers councils.
That was the reason, he declared,
that the Rada had to flee from the
Ukraine to the protection of German
bayonets.
German occupation of Petrograd,
M. Kameneff added, would not be
enough to restore the monarchy. Any
attempt at restoration would entail
fighting in every town and village, for
the peasants and workers were well
aware that restoration would in
volve the lo5s of their land and poll
tcal rights.
Washington is Skeptical.
Washington, Feb. 26.-German
Chancellor Won Hertling's speech to
the Reichstag was studied today by
President Wilson and State depart
ment officials without any official indi-
cation of how it was regarded or that
it would be made the basis for a
further step in the presidents GUS
tom of discussing the subject of peace
before congress.
Officials who read the address
thought it served to emphasize a
point recently made to President VIII
son that while the central powers ap-
peared to accept the general broad
altruistic principles for which the en-
tente allies and America were con-
tending, when it came to the arrange
ment of details the central powers
appeared reluctant to apply those
principles. s.- )
They noted Won Hertling's refer
ences to Ireland, India and Egypt.
and regarded them as caluculated to
create discord between the entente al
lies and continue a deception of the
German people, who apparently be-
lieve the military party is willing to
make peace without annexations and
indemnities.
Small Battles Continue.
On the battle fronts the fighting bv
the infantry continues mainly in the
nature of patrol encounters. On nt
merous sectors in France, 3elguw
and Italy the big guns are engaged in
heavy reciprocal duels