Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-30
1917 Plans as to Belgium.

cellor Michaelis drew up a tentative
plan for peace negotiations, incor-
porating in this the demand for Liege
and adjacent territory and the eco
many. The chancellor, however,
planned to hold Liege only provision
ally. as a factor of security.
Hindenburg Opposed Plan.
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg was
| opposed to the giving up of Liege,
He would hear Of no talk Of In
IDENTITIES, nor would he indicate Ger
many's intention to the enemy.
| Gen. Ludendorff, another of the
high military authorities, was for
| German hands. He advised strong
! military pressure and the driving
back Of the British and French
armies. Only thus. he contended.
could Belgium become economically
and intimately connected with Ger
| many.
The German attitude was disclosed
Bauer before the Weimar assembly
today, when the peace overtures to
Germany alleged to have been made
by Great Britain and France through
the Vatican in August, 1917. were
again the subject of discussion
Mueller, the foreign minister, read
the telegram from the British min
lister at the Vatican to the papal
secretary of state, which was re-
ferred to by Matthias Erzberger, vice
premier, in q recent speech before the
assembly, relative to peace settle
ment
British Telegram.
{ The British telegram. not dated,
was as follows:
I'VE have not yet had an opportu-
nifty to consult the allies regarding
the note received from your emf
rence and are unable to answer the
proposal made by your eminence re-
garding the terms for a lasting peace.
In our opinion there Is no probability
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 guarantee they
will give for the future protection of
the world against the terrors from
which it is now suffering.
LAS 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 eminence 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 attempt
to bring the belligerents to an agree
ment seems vain so long as we do not
know the points where their opinions
differ"
Says Ex-Kaiser Will Be Tried.
Premier Bauer followed DR.. Mueller.
He attacked the conservatives and de-
clared that the former emperor would
certainly be brought to trial and
proved guilty of many things.
1.-THE re-introduction of a monarchy
in Germany is impossible" he said.
II will read you two declarations, one
from Chancellor Michaelis to Won Hin
denburg. dated September H. 1917,
and the other, dated September Is,
1917, containing Won Hindenburg's re-
dunn from Won Ludendorff. You will
then understand why no decisive re-
ply could be given regarding the re-
instatement OF Belgium"
DR.. Bauer then read the Michaelis
note as follows:
I'm accordance with the wishes of
the high command I drew UP the fol-
lowing basis for peace negotiations
for the protection of our commerce:
we demand the city Of Liege and adj
5acent territory. Belgium must be
Intimately and economically united
fulfilled all our demands for security
or economic connection, which will
take several years after the first
peace negotiations, we consider that
military measures can then be abol-
ished. Consequently we only ask to
hold Liege professionally as a factor
Won Hindenburg's Reply.
Won Hindenburg replied as follows:
I don't conceal that the navy and
blow il we give up the Flanders
coast-a delusion which can only be
alleviated II compensations are also
known by the navy to be fulfilled
Economic connection with Belgium
cannot be realized without pressure
clared. and for that PURPOSE several
years will be necessary. which, for
military reasons, is possibly only
when England and America desert
France.
"If we are in possession Of Liege
and unlimited masters Of the situa-
ton we can take the measures neces-
sary I, therefore, do not believe. that
we should give up Liege.
The hardships which viii be en-
dured by our neighbors are the in
evitable resni. OF the war under press
of indemnities; neither can we fndi-
cate our intentions to foreign coun-
tries"
Reveals Memorandum.
Ludendorirs memorandum SAYS:
I'VE must keep the district arm in our
| hands Possession Of the Mouse line
only Is insuficient We must drive
the British ana French armies still
gium can become econonnfcaiiy anf5
Intimately connected with ue. and this
could not be effected without strone
military pressure. Without q lengthy