The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-06

mediator between the more conservative
and more radical elements Of the Centre
party.
Thus he pushed himself ahead politi.
cally. until in 1912 he became President
OF the Hawaiian Cabinet ana Minister
Tor Foreign Affairs. He was opposed to
| radical Socialism, but he had kind
word. nevertheless to still opposition to
himself from that quarter.
| Adroit with Socialists.
| Il regard the aims OF Socialism as
| utopian." he said, addressing tho So
cialists of the Hawaiian Diet. Then he
continued: You want TO accelerate a
development In that direction. /, for
my part. will try to retard It." He was
looked upon a. not casting aside the
ideas of the paoifists. but at the same
time he was quite outapoken in his be-
lief that Germany must look to her pre-
paredness for peace and prosperity. or
England. he had said:
| we want good relations with Eng
land but under the reservation that
no obstacle will be put In the way Of
our peaceful expansion. For we agree
with the Chancellor (Bethinann -iioll-
weg) that our peace lies with our
strength"
In the early part of the struggle,
speaking OF the war. Count Won Hertling
said: The German people are unanl-
mously resolved to hold out, and every
one is mistaken who thinks Germany
would allow itself to be brought to a
peace unworthy OF the great and bloody
sacrifices We have made. There IL no
room in Germany now for pessimists and
weaklings."
Apparently the "peacen,aker," Chan
cellor had not altered his views, even
as late as March 20. 1918, for the day
before the great German drive started
against the British lines on the western
front he warned OF the sacrifices that
were vet TO come. and that peace had
not arrived. on that occasion he was
urging war with all the power OF a
Hindenburg despite his reputation as an
advocate of immediate peace.
Defended Russian Treaty.
with the peace ofrens,ves" giving
hope Of an early end Of the war Won
Hertling as Chancellor had this 10 say
OF the then newly signed treaty OF Brest-
Litovsk with Russia: THE treaty with
Russia contains no conditions disgrace
full TO Russia II the provinces breaking
away from Russia say It la in accord
ance with their own wish and the wish
Is accepted by Russia"
| Through all of the last days OF his
reign as Chancellor Won Hertlings prin-
cipal speeches were epitomized with his
word to the German people that peace
was nearer than thy thought"
In the latter part of February. when
the German effort for subtle" peace
was at its height. Count Won HertlinR
went before sthe Reichst,s and informed
that body that the so-called fourteen
peace points cnunciated by President
Wilson might he used as basis for
the discussion of a general peace.
81 can fundamentally agree with the
four principles which In Preslden,
Wilson's view must be applied in a
mutual exchange OF views" he said
! land thus declare with President Wilson
tina: a general peace can be discussed
| on such a OASIS.
Peace Offensive Fails.
"Only one reserve must he made In
this connection: These principles mus
not only be proposed by the President oil
the United States, but must also act
ually be recognized by all States ano
peoples" The four points of which hs
spoke were the first four named b.
President Wilson. which covered aboli
ton of secret diplomacy. freedom OF tn,
seas. removal OF economic barriers ant
guarantees TOT tne rec sStlOn OF NTin
= aments
Whatever happened in Germany TIT
hope that went into the Characteristic
i with Won Hertling did not materialize
, His peace "offensives' failed. The lat
: ter months Of his occupancy OF the pos
found him assailed by the Socialists II
: the Reichstag. The German newspaper
denounced him. The Socialists charged
, that. while he had entered the Chancel
dorshlp upon the understanding that h,
| would lie spokesman OF the whole Ger
, man people. he had. in fact. turned owe
r TO the Junkers and represented idea
that were obsolete
The press criticism of him appeared
l 20 be caused by the increasing friction
e between the German and Austrian Gov
E eruments He added to his unpopu
: larity by approving Il bill for genera
j equal suffrage as II came from tn
r PIussan lower house. The Worker
i Union also turned against him. acCus
n ing the Government OF being responsi
r BILE for lack OF food and with puttiEi
4 the welfare of the producing interest
n above those Of the people, so genera
Q did the objection TO Won Hertling be
come in his last days as Chancello
d that even newspapers which had sup
l. ported him almost blindly before char
e acterzed his speeches for peace as in
= sincere and untruthful.