Evening star., 1918-06-25

for instigating the war was laid at
Russia's door by DR.. Won Kuehlmann.
the German foreign secretary, in an
address to the reichstag yesterday. In
which he also dealt with Germany's
war aims.
France and England were named as
the next powers in order of culpa-
bility.
'Planned and Desired War"
"I believe" said DR.. Won Kuehlmann,
shat one can say without fear Of con-
tradiction. as the result of revelations,
that the deeper we go into the causes
of this war the clearer 1t becomes that
the power which planned and desired
the war was Russia; that France play
ed the next worse role as instigator
and that England's policy has very
dark pages to show"
Referring to Germany's war aims.
DR.. Won Kuehlmann said:
I'VE wish for the German people
and our allies a free, strong. fnde-
pendent existence within the bounda-
rtes drawn for US by history. We
desire overseas possessions corre-
spending to our greatness and wealth:
the freedom of the sea, carrying our
trade to all parts Of the world"
These in BRIEF" said the foreign
secretary, are our roughly sketched
aims, the realization of which is abso-
luteiy vital and necessary for Ger
many"
Regarding Belgium the foreign Sec
retary said: I'VE must decline to
make. as it were, a prior concession
by giving a statement on the Belgian
In the least binding the enemy"
Ready to Talk Peace.
with reference to the peace question
Or. Won Kuehlman quoted from for
mer Premier Asquiths speech Of May
16. in which he said that the British
government would not turn deaf ear
to peace proposal II 1t was not
couched in ambiguous terms.
We likewise can make the same
declaration" added the foreign Sec
retary, knowing it to be also our
policy.
Once the momentarrives-wh
care not to prophesy-that the nations
which are at present locked in battle
~~Se@SAAoS
the preliminary conditions must be
certain degrees Of mutual confidence
in each others honesty and chivalry."
"For SO long" continued DR.. Won
Kuehlmann. "as every overture is re-
Earded by others as peace offensive.
as q trap or as something false for
the purpose Of sowing disunion be-
tween allies: 80 long as every attempt
at q rapprochment is at once vio-
lently denounced by the enemies Of a
I 4-l~
tries. SO long will it be impossible to
see how any exchange Of ideas lead
ing to peace can be begun"
Denies Aim to Dominate"
Tn South Russia" DR.. Won Kuehlmann
said. "our occupation Of the Crimea gave
rise to certain Incidents respecting the
Russian feet. but these have been eatis-
factorily settled"
Continuing, he said: 'England's atti-
tude in the days before the outbreak of
sia's desire for war. OF this there are
proofs enough in the documents already
published
'On the other hand Germany did
not for an instant believe that this
war could lead to the domination Of
Europe. much less to the domination
Of the world. On the contrary. the
German policy before the war showed
good prospects of being able salts
factorily to realize its essential aims.
namely, the settlement of affairs in
the east and colonial problems by
peaceful negotiation"
Dealing with the question of Poland,
DR.. Won kuehlmann said that not only
was the Polish question inherently a
difficult one, but the almost insepara-
BILE connection between it and the
solution of the economic questions
n nfNHYa At,.t .tvt-
and Germany had so far prevented the
attainment of definite result.
Il believe. however" said the foreign
minister, that before there are gen
eral peace negotiations in Europe the
jealous efforts of the statesmen con-
cerned will result in their succeeding
In finding a solution acceptable to all
parties"
Austria a Faithful Ally.
Dr. Won Kuehlmann went into Soma
questions of imperial policy. referring
hrst to Germany's relations with her
allies.
In Austria Hungary" said DIR. Won
Kuehlmann. that brilliant represent
ative of her foreign policy. Count
Czernin. retired because of internal
political reasons. His successor. Baron
Burian, Is a well tried diplomat
whose loyalty. friendship and devo-
tion to the alliance were assured from
the outset. The personal and cordial
collaboration which existed in the
case of Count CZernin and which con-
tributed to the final settlement and
solution of all questions also exists
in the case of Baron Burian."
Planned Meeting Of Kaisers.
TT is also to be reckoned amona
Baron Burian's services" DR.. yor
Kuehlmann went on, that an inter.
view between the two emperors oc.
CURED at main headquarters, which
history will record as momentous In
shaping the relations between Ger.
many and Austria Hungary. Both the
emperors, in the presence of leading
statesmen. assured each other solemn n
ly that they would not only loyalty
abide by the existing alliance, but
that they also intended to strengthen