Taiban Valley news., 1918-02-01
HERTLlNG DEMANDS BRITAIN
GIVE UP GIBRALTAR FORT
REss TO FREE SEAS.
AGREEONW'LSONp PLANS
czERNlN ASSERTS NEITHER TER.
RlToRY NOR INDEMNITY WILL
BE ASKED OF RUSSIA.
western Newspaper Union News Service.


to their respective parliaments tn
opinion was expressed by official
J here that no substantial advance t,
ward the final peace sought by a
belligerents has resulted from thes
declarations. -
Berlin, Jan. 26.-Count Won Hert
ling, the German chancellor, in an
swering the recent speeches of Pres
dent Wilson and Premier Lloy
George, announced in the Reichsta
main committee that Germany woul
not give up Alsace-Lorraine
There are no differences between
us and President Wilson as to free
dom of the seas" the German chan
cellor asserted. But it is most i'm
portant for future freedom of naviga
ton that England relinquish strong
fortified points d'appui on important
sailing routes-such as Gibraltar, Nal
ia, Alden, Hong Kong cnd the Falk
land islands"
AS to Belgium, the chancellor said
Germany did not desire any forcible
annexation of her territory. Regard.
ing occupied French territory he de-
clared that while Germany did not de-
sire annexations Of it by violence he
would discuss the question of this ter
r1tory only with France. The evacua-
ton of Russian territory could be dis
cussed only with Russia, he an
nounced. He expressed agreement
with certain points in President Will
sons speech and invited new pro-
posals from the allies.
Count Czernin, the Austro-Hun-
garian foreign minister, in an address
before the Reichsrath, also replied to
the speeches of the British and Amer
lean executives. He also voiced a de-
sire to continue the exchange of
peace views with the allies.
In particular, he thought such ex-
changes between Austria Hungary and
the United States were desirable.
There was no great incompatibility
between the interests of these two ma
tions, in his opinion, and an exchange
OF views between them might open the
way for the other nations to join in
conciliatory discussions.
Chief interest centers in the an
nouncement of Germany's terms.
which are defined for the most part
IN a negative way, however. The Ger
man chancellor stated specifically that
Germany agreed with the first four
POINTS in President Wilson's world
peace program which cover the aboli-
ion OF secret diplomacy, freedom of
he seas, equality of trade conditions
md reduction Of national ornaments.
TIE chancellor thought some diff
ult1es would be met regarding the
nth point which treated with colonial
and asserted the princi-
ne that the interests of the popula.
Ion concerned must have equal
'eight with the claims of the govern.
1ent whose title was to be deter.
lined.
AS to the question of a league of
eace, the chancellor said Germany
ould be ready to discuss that after
Il the other questions had been set
ed
Austria was primarily concerned
18th points 8, 10 and IL in President
'ilson's speech, Chancellor Won Hert.
1g pointed out. Germany's interests
ould be defended theoretically
here they were involved. These
'ints touch upon the readjustment of
e Italian frontiers along clearly rec
nizable lines of nationality, free op-
rtunity for the autonomous deyel-
ment of the peoples of Austria-Hu
ry and with the Balkan question. in
iding demands for the evacuation
Rumania, Serbia and Montenegro.
tn free access to the sea for Serbia.
The chancellor was notably specific
his treatment of the Alscce-Lor-
ne question, declaring this territory
s originally German, that it had
en taken by force from German DOS
'sion, and the cession of 1871 was
rely a restoration.
nile count Won Hertling found
'mier Lloyd George more concilia,
y in his recent speech than former
showing more of an inclination to
political, economic and
Lural position" while he was found
arging her with being guilty of all
sible crimes"
cunt Czernin, Austria's spokes-
1, in his address, dealt at some I
9TH with the Russian question. He
Jared that Austria-Hungary did not
re meter Of territory nor CEN
Of indemnity from Russia and
lght there were not differences
Ugh in the Russian and German
point of self-determination to JUS
an abandonment of the negotia-
now in progress at Brest-Litovsk.
Polish question, he declared, must
delay the bringing about Of peace
single day.