New-York tribune., 1919-07-30
Documents Read by Bauer
Before Assembly Show
High Command in 1917
Hoped to Rule Belgium
War Leaders Stubborn
Hindenburg Letter Shows
He Expected England and
u. S. to Desert France

COPENHAGEN, July 80 (By The AS
sociated Press) s).-Control Of Belgium
and possession of the city of Liege were
determinations of the German high
command in 1917. Chancellor Michaelis
drew up a tentative plan for peace ne
gotiations, incorporating in this the
demand for Liege and adjacent terri
tory and the economic union Of Bel
GUM with Germany. The Chancellor
however, planned to hold Liege only
slonally. as a factor Of security
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg was
opposed to giving up Liege. He
would hear of no talk of indemnities,
nor would he indicate Germany's in
tention to the enemy.
General LudendorF, another of the
high military authorities, was for keep
ing the entire Lege district in German
hands. He advised strong military pres
sure and the driving back of the Brit
ish and French armies. Only thus, he
continued, could Belgium become eco
nomcally and intimately connected
with Germany.
Facts Revealed by Bauer
The German attitude was disclosed
before the Weimar Assembly yester-
day, when the peace overtures to Ger
many, alleged to have been made by
Great Britain and France through the
Vatican. in August, 1917, were again
the subject of discussion.
AS preliminary, DR.. Hermann
Mueller, the Foreign Minister, read the
much discussed telegram from the
British Minister at the Vatican to the
81 -.
referred to by Matthias Erzberger,
Vice Premier, in a recent speech be-
fore the Assembly, relative to a peace
settlement.
The British telegram, which was not
dated, was read by Mr. Muller as fol-
| lows:
eve have not yet had an oppor-
tunity to consult the Allies regard
ing the note received from your Emf
nence and are unable to answer the
proposal made by your Eminence re-
garding the terms for lasting peace.
In our opinion there is no proba bility
of reaching this aim as long as the
Central Powers and their allies have
not officially expressed their war
aims and settled the indemnity they
are ready to pay and what guaran-
tees they will give for the future
protection of the world against the
terrors from which it is now suf-
fering.
Belgium Not Protected
GAS regards Belgium, they make no
definite declaration regarding their
intention, nor do they say whether
they intend to restore to Belgium her
full independence and make good
the damage which she suffered.
Your Emnence doubtless knows
the declarations made by the Allies
in reply to President Wilson'S note.
Neither Austria nor Germany ever
made such a declaration. Any at
tempt to bring the belligerents to an
agreement seems vain so long as we
do not know the points where their
opinions differ"
Premier Bauer followed DR.. Mueller
He attacked the Conservatives and de-
clared the former emperor certainly
would be brought to trial and proved
guilty CT many things.
The re-introduction Of monarchy
in Germany is impossible" he said 81
will read you two declarations, one
from Chancellor Michaelis to Won Hin
denburg, dated September -, 1917, and
the other, dated September Is, 1917
containing Won Eindenburg's reply and
accompanied by a memorandum fre m
Won LudendortF You will then under
stand why no decisive reply coud be
given regarding the reinstatement OF
Belgium"
Won Hindenburg replied as follows:
Il don't conceal that the navy and
patriotic circles will feel it hard
blow if we give up the Flanders
coast-a delusion which can only be
alleviated if compensations are also
known by the navy to be fulfilled.
Economic connection with Belgium
cannot be realized without pressure
on Belgium, even after peace is de-
clared, and for that purpose several
years will be necessary, which, for
when England and America desert
France
If we are in possession of Liege
and unlimited master OF the stua-
tion we can take the measures neces-
sary. | therefore do not believe that
we should give up Liege.
Idea of Indemnities Spurned
'The hardships which will be en-
dured by our neighbors are the in
evitable result Of the war under
present conditions. There can be no
talk of indemnities; neither can we
indicate our intentions to foreign
countries"
Ludendorff's memorandum says:
We iiuSI Keep tHe ulStElcL. Nrm
in our hands. Possession Of the
Meuse line only is insufficient. We
must drive the British and French
armies still further back 1t is only
thus that Belgium can become eco
nomically and intimately connected
with US, and this could not be eff
fected without strong military pres
sure. Without a lengthy occupa-
ton and the possession of Liege,
the neutrality of BELGIUM is a phan-
tom, not 70 be reckoned with"
City of Liege Demanded
Dr. Bauer then read the Michaelis
note as follows
"In accordance with the wishes Of
the high command, | drew up the fol-
lowing basis for peace negotiations
for the protection of our commerce.
We demand the city Of Liege and ad-
jacent territory. Belgium must be
intimately and economically united
with Germany. When Belgium has
fulfilled all our demands for security
Of economic connection which will