Omaha daily bee., 1919-07-30
Hun Chiefs Baked
On Giving Up Liege

COntnued from rage One.)
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 belligerants to an
agreement seems vain so long as
we do not know the points where
their opinions differ"
Premier Bauer followed DR.. Muel-
er. He attacked the conservatives
and declared that the former en-
peror would certainly be brought to
trial and proved guilty of many
things.
THE reintroduction of a mon
archy in Germany is impossible" he
said. II will read you two declara-
tons, one from Chancellor Michaelis
to Won Hindenburg, dated Septem-
Der II, 1917, and the other, dated
September IS. 1917, containing Won
Hindenburg's reply and accompanied
by a memorandum from Won Luden-
dorff. You will then understand
why no decisive reply could be given
regarding the reinstatement of Bel
GUM"
DR.. Bauer then read the Michaelis
note, as follows:
'In accordance with the wishes of
the high command, | drew up the
following basis for peace negotia-
tons, for the protection of our COM
merce. We demand the city of Liege
and adjacent territory. Belgium
must be intimately and economically
united with Germany. When Bel
GUM has fulfilled all our demands
for security of economic connection,
which will take several years after
the first peace negotiations, we con-
slider that military measures can then
be abolished. Consequently we only
ask to hold Liege Professionally as a
factor of security"
Won Hindenburg replied as fol-
lows: Il don't conceal that the
navy and patriotic circles will feel it
a hard blow if we give up the Fland-
ers coast-a delusion which can only
be alleviated if compensations are
also known by the navy to be full
filled. Economic connection with
Belgium cannot be released without
pressure on Belgium, even after
peace is declared and for that pur-
pose several years will be necessary,
which, for military reasons, is pos
sible only when England and Amer
lea desert France.
IF we are in possession of Liege
and unlimited master of the situa-
ton we can take the measures neces-
sary. therefore do not believe
that we should give up Liege.
"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 Advice.
Ludendorff's memorandum says:
1--WE must keep the district firm 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 economic
ally and intimately connected with
us, and this could not be effected
without strong military pressure.
Without lengthy occupation and
the possession of Liege the neutral
ity of Belgium is a phantom, not to
be reckoned with"
Having made public these state
ments the premier continued:
"At the same time the so-called
land party was formed, which sup
ported the demands of the high
command. II was the members of
this party which supported the an
nexionists and drove the German
people into destruction.
The premier was interrupted by
many of the members who, leaping
to their feet, shouted "murderers,"
traitors" political radicals"