Republican farmer., 1918-06-28


 This announcement was made by the chancellor in the Reichstag in the debate after the speech of Foreign Secretary Won Kuehlmann. Proposal of a league of nations after the war is not looked upon with favor by Count von Hertling, who intimated that such a league might make it un- comfortable for Germany.
 q originally had no intention to take part in this debate" said the chancellor. ''The reasons for my contemplated reserve are obvious, namely, the experiences l have had together with my predecessors re- marks in previous speeches.
 ''If we spoke our willingness for peace that was regarded as a symptom of weakness and our immediately inn pending collapse. By others it was Interpreted as crafty traps. Did we speak on the other hand of our unshakable will to defend our nally thrust upon us it was said that it was the voice of German militarism to which even the leading statesmen must submit willy nlny.
 ''I went step further on Feb. "A and expressly stated my attitude to- ward the message of President Wilson in which he discussed his four points and gave, in principle, my assent to them. I said these four points of President Wilson might possibly form the basis of a general world peace. No utterance of President Wilson whatever followed this, so that there is no object in spiraIing any further the threads there started.
 There is still less object after statements which have since reached us, especially from America. These statements, indeed, made it really clear what is to be understood form 2 peace league of peoples or a league of peoples for the maintence of free dom and justice.
 Our opponents made it clear that they would be the kernel of this league of peoples and that it woulC in this way not be difficult to isolate the uncomfortable upward strivings of Germany and by economic strang. ulation to extiguish her vital breath
 
 proper that the foreign secretary make a statement on the details of oul political situation in the east iron Finland to the Black Sea and in my opinion he fulfilled the task thor. oughly.
 "On the other hand some of hi. statements were given a more or les unfriendly reception in wide cir cles"
 The chancellor said he would no 20 into the question of the respon sibility for the war. There are al ready testimonies that Germany wa not to blame " he added.
 'T feel obliged to clear away tn, misunderstanding which, it seems, W, obtained in the interpretation of tn, second part of the state secretary statement" he continued "Th tendency of these utterances of tn state secreary was purely to ascrib the responsibility for the continuation and immeasurable prolongation of thi terrible war to the enemy powers en tirely in the sense had indicated O Feb. "A, for it goes without sayin that there can be no question Q lessening our energetic defense or ou will, or of shaking our confidence i victory.
 Now, as before, the ruler of tn empire, the princes and the peopl stand closely and confidently togeth CT. They trust in our incomparabl troops, our incomparable army~lea6 CTS and our united people, which ar unshakably standing together an they may hope that the Almight. who hitherto has helped us and le us from victory to- victory, will rt ward this faithful German people,"