Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-22
GERMANY WILL NOT MISUSE
POWER IN EAST, SAYS sOLF
German Secretary Of State for Colo
MES Replies to Recent adj
dress of Balfour.
JINGo SPIRIT DUE TO ENTENTE
Declares That England's Attitude
Towards Russia Is Merely Selfish,
and That Economic Distress In
lists In Territories Held by Huns.
Ipx Associated press.1


AMSTERDAM! August 21.-Discuss-
ing Germany's Prussian policy and the
Brest -Litovsk treaty, DR.. w. s. Solf,
German secretary Of state for the col
onies. said to-day that Germany would
not misuse her power in the East, ac-
cording TO adyices from Berlin. lie is
The German government is fully
resolved not to misuse the protection
has been granted Because forcible an.
nexation would bar the way now open
TO oppressed peoples--the road TO
Referring TO the recent address by
A. j. Balfour, British secretary of
state for foreign affairs. Or. Solf de.
tinued:
MIR. Balfour asserts that intellectual
fist doctrine. Here there are Chauvi-
nistic jingoes, people who worship the
eternal yesterday and anNiously and
without understanding await the APP
these people formed small group
without political influence on the gov
them. During the war, their number
indeed. increased not because OF the
world had taken. deeper root, but be
cause their ranks were swellcd by
numerous sober and solicitous pa
triots.
amongst these are many who be-
fore the war held high ideals about AN
understanding OF peoples, good will and
whose political creed broke down under
the experiences of the war.
Where does the blame lie? No
where but in the spirit. which animates
dishonor and has turned to scorn the
grand ideal of league of nations by
a simultaneous demand for CONNER
cial war against Germany.
IF i believe that the SD{rit which at
present seems to prevail in England,
and which speaks clearly in MIR. Bal
ed against us in the Pemberton- Billing
case-if l had TO believe that this spirit
would always have the upper hand in
England, then also would advocate
death.
81 am. however, firmly convinced that
before the end of the war comes. an
intellectual revulsion must and will
supervene against this Knockout spirit,
Otherwise tho Relation OF a league OF
remains a Utopian war aim"
Referring TO Mr.. Balfour's second
charge" he said:
This is directed against our eastern
policy. To this l reply that the Brest
Litovsk peace came about by agree
man governments that tho frontier
peoples OF Russia, after centuries OF
oppression. should be permitted TO live
their own national life. for which OBJ
agreement on the fate of the border
peoples is a fact of world Importance,
which never can be erased from his
tory.
England forfeited the right to act
as moral champion of the Russian
border states in their unparalleled time
Of suffering. During the war they re-
peatedly appealed to England for help.
1t was always denied them."
He declared that Englands attitude
towards Russia was merely selfish,
e "a inn III
rise to weld Russia together again. he
would be welcome ally TO England
in her crusade for freedom and right"
The recognition of the Czecho-Slo-
landless robber bands-as
an allied power is the logical keystone
Of the singular structure of Anglo
Russian friendship.
HUNGER BLOCKADE HITS
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Tho economic distress in the ter
ritories occupied by us is undoubtedly
great; but 1t Is cynicism when Eng
blockade i is directed rec: against ST. the e"e oc-
cupled territories just as t is directed
against us. against ,neutrais and
against the whole world"
DR. Solf denied that Germany had ILL
treated Finland and the Baltic prov
inces.
Concerning Roumania. he said that
interference from the German govern
meht.
He asserted that Germany was the
only power waging war which had
definitely adopted the demilitarization
of Africa as a war aim, and asked IL
England was ready to do the same.
He cited a sentence in Mr. Balfour's
speech to the effect that the abyss be-
tween the central powers and the al
lies was SO deep that 1t could not be
bridged.
mir. Balfour can go on" he said,
"an nd claim for himself that he has made
this abyss deeper"