The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-09-20

Bauer to the meetings called in Berlin to consider the matter. But we found that we were without the necessary support of the War Ministry.
 At the end of June discussions on all the aforementioned questions were resumed at Spa between the Imperial Chancellor, the Field Marshal, the War Ministers and myself.
 I referred to the conferences in Der lin with Colonel Bauer, and once more emphasized as gravely as 1 could the necessity of obtaining adequate re- reserves of adopting the most severe measures against shirkers and desert- CTS in the homeland. and above all of encouraging in the people determine ton to fight. with regard to which l again drew attention to the dangerous influences of section of our press, enemy propaganda and Bolshevisn.
 CABIBNET GIVES NO MEN
 I spoke my mind on these points far more often than I have recorded in these pages. Once more I was promis ed a great deal. The situation. how ever, remained unchanged. l do not know whether those gentlemen thought that my repFts were exaggerated or that they were merely the fruit of my 'Militarism." Neither woull the War Office accede to my request for general conference of employers and employees. to come to an understanding with regard to the nNcessity of draw ing upon the exempted. men.
 Meanwhile l tried again to exploit our success in order to Iurther the peace movement in enemy countries. Another memorandum on this subject was sent to the Imperial Chancellor. On June 1e, he sent for Colonel Non Haeften. After long consultation the essentials of such propaganda were de- cided on. Vice Chancellor von Payer. in particular. showed a lively interest in these questions During the discus- sions at Spa I again begged the Im- perial Chancellor to appoint a Minister for Propaganda. Beyoni this wa did not refer to the prospect of peace.
 In view of Clemencau's speeches, we were compelled, in my opinion, to con tinue the war or submit to humiliation. I must assume that the responsible statesmen held the same view, for even though I always hoped for success, they could have had no doubt ot the gravity of my view of the situation. 2 CANCELLATION AS TO BELGIUM
 In May and June Colonel von Hsef- ten, quite in accord with my views, urged the Foreign Office to make a conciliatory declaration concerning Bel gium. Secretary of State von Kuhl- mann. however, declined to take any initiative in the mater. Ho was well aware of the impossibility of any eS- change of ideas which the enemy gov ernments. So much he frankly and openly stated.
 On June 24, passing his. remarks on a speech of Mir. Asquith's Pn May 18th, in favor of peace, he spoke in the Reichstag to the following effect:
 "As long as every opening is ac- cepted by the other side as Peace Of- fensive, as a trap as unt-ustworthy, as calculated to SOW dissension between the allies, and so long as every advance is violently denounced bJ the opponents of a reapprochement, it is impossible to foresee how any exchange of ideas that might lead up to peace is to be brought about"
 The Imperial Chancellor adopted the same attitude in his speech of July 18th He gave expression to our constant readiness for peace,-but so long as the enemy's will do destruction persisted we must carry on; though as soon as the enemy evinced any serious inolina- tion to pave the way to peace we should at once prepare to meet him..
 q may also tell you tha. this point of view is not confined to myself. but is shared by the leaders of the army for they are not carrying on tine wal for it's own sake, but told me so soon as an earnest desire for peace shows ;tsell on the other side, we must not be be- hindhand."
 The Imperial Chancellor has accu rately represented the view of Field Marshal and myself.
 When I now reflect on the possibilit, and prospect of . peace move, hnd i | been undertaken by the government I am firmly convinced that we shoHi have been granted an armistfcc mt peace only on the conditions that " are now compelled to accept. w should not have taken upon ourselvc this responsibility, indeed in Octo her we ought not to have done. despite the gravity of our situation.
 . Whether l was right or wrong in p, view of the conditions then existing only Clemenceau Wilson and Lloyt George can decide. England and thu United States wished for our economic destruction; England, in addition wanted to render us powerless, ant France to bleed us white. Common tS all our antagonists was the desire tt inflict the deepest humiliation on then hated enemy before the world, an' to impede the development of the Ger man people for all time.
 The Entente only pursued ideals fol the betterment of the world in so fal A national policy. This was the motive of all its actions, all else was but means to the same end. It was tht very reverse with us, our first idea was universal happiness. our secont the security of the Fatherland. Int war once begun, it's conclusion did no rest with us alone.
 Published by special arrangement with the Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate Copyrights. reserved. Copyrighted II Great Britain by Hutchinson and com pany and the London Times, in Spar by Messrs. Seix and Bariel, in ltal! kby Fratelli Treves. in Canada ane Australia. All rights reserved fol France, Belgium, Holland, Russia, ane the scandinavian countries.
 Iudendorff teels tomorrow of the over throw of Kuhlmann for admitting that the German army could not win the war. He also reveals how he wanted to overthrow the government of Lenine hut was baked by the Berlin authorl- ties. Light is also thrown' on the fam ous Pilgrimage of Emperor Charles to make amends to the Kaiser for peace intrigues.