The Washington herald., 1918-02-28
HUN TRICKERY
SEEN In SPEECH
BY HERTLING
President Awaits Uncensor-
ed Text Before Replying
to Hun Chancellor.


German chanceIlor's speech has been
received
MeanwhiIe, diplomats do not hes
itate to say that the Hertling speech
does not grow out of a real will
TO peace on the part Of Germany.
Il is characterized as but part Of
q cold. calculated peace Offensive
through which Germany hopes to
repeat on the west the politico-mili-
tary tactics which brought her sue
cess IN Russia
PrOpaganda I'm Belgium.
II was learned here yesterday that
Germany Is vigorously pressing in
Belgium a campaign for the disin-
tegration Of that country's national
spirit Likewise there have reach
ed Washington reports OF an alarm
ing new activity in Italy on the
part of German spies, Socialists and
other agents, whose pernicious sue
cess behind the Italian lines pre-
ceded the last great Teuton offen-
sfve into the Italian plains.
But, as Il was pointed out yes
terday, this Is a game that two
can play. Austrian sentiment Is
slready splitting away from the
Prussian- Count Czernin's speech OF
February - In which he declared
that Austria would never again take
M arms against Russia and Ru-
mania. was taken as proof Of this
swing here.
Meets With Failure.
There appears no doubt Of the
failure Of German plans in Belgium.
Italy. Il Il known. has this time
taken steps to prevent q recurrence
Of the lowered morale which was
responsible for the last disaster.
Diplomats and officials expressed
themselves as confident that President
Wilson In due time will worst Won
Hertllng on the battlefield OF political
debate while the armies OF the entente
and the United States are girding
themselves to strafe the Prussian mil
itary machine.
In this connection II seemed prob
able that the task of replying to Won
Hertllng would be left to President
Wilson and that neither Lloyd-George
aor Ciemenceau would speak. despite
the direct aspersions of the chancel-
Tor upon their own particular war
policies.
Caution Dictates silence.
The anxiety Of the President for
the full text Of the Won Hertling
speech and the unwiIlingness Of on
cials to comment upon the press re-
ports IL a caution dictated By expert
ence with the speech Of Count Ger
MIN. the Austrian premier. When a
text of that speech was received
through our diplomatic agents in
Switzerland. untouched by the Ger
man censor. It was found to be in
many respects essentially different
from the press reports cabled via Ger
many, Amsterdam and London
1t was unqualifiedly' stated In au-
thoritative Belgian circles here that
King Albert would take no notice Of
the German bid for a separate offer
from Belgium.
1T would mean" said q diistin-
guished Belgian here, that my coun-
try would be drawn into a separate
conversation. We would lose the
friendship OF our allies and we would
be at the mercy Of the invader Of
our land
Same Old German Game.
'Tt is the same old German game,
and We know II only too we'll Part
OF Il has been the persistent German
efforts to split the Flemings and the
WaIloons and to offer the Flemings
Independence, just as they got Ukraine
and the other Russian provinces.
That EFFORT has met with no success
IN Belgium A few 'misfits,' persons
Of small intelligence or doubtful in
tegritv. were led to play the German
game and demand independence for
the Flemings. A meeting was held.
packed with Germans, Dutch and the
curious That meeting declared for
the Independence of Flanders.
Prosecutions Ordered.
But the Court of Appeals of Brus-
sels ordered the prosecution of the
Belsians mixed up in the scheme as
Violators Of the Belgian law which
Is supposed still to be in force. Two
OF them were arrested and the Ger
man hand In the scheme was prompt-
ly shown.
The German military authorities or
dered the release Of the men who were
In effect rebels against constituted
authority In Belgium and they arrest
ed and transported to Germany three
OF the Judges whose only offense was
the enforcement of the Belgian law
which the Germans had sworn to help
administer.
= Despite the separation, wholly
without color Of right, of the German
administration OF Belgium into a
Flemish administration at Brussels
and q Walloon administration at Ma
Enur. the sentiment Of all Belgium is
still that expressed In Antwerp's let
ter to Won Bethmann-HoIIweg A year
ago. That note said:
what Note Said.
Never shall we accept a peace
which would entitle your government
or any foreign state to NEEDLE in our
internal policy"
Both Flemings and walIoons de-
mand that Belgium entire be restor-
ed"
According to dispatches from Rome
received here yesterday Italian So
ciahsts have whole-heartedly accept
ed the aims Of the allies, despite the
activities OF the German inspir-
ed peace-at-any-price propagandists.
These dispatches say that the declara-
tons Of the interallied Socialists con-
ference In London IN favor Of the ma
tionalistic aims Of the allies has been
unanimously praised by the Italian
Socialists Italian Socialists, accord
ing to the Idea Nazionale, are stand
ing firm for the return Of Alsace-Lor-
raine to France without a referendum,
as they are standing for the return of
Halia Irredenta to Italy