The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-10-21

the size Of the population made posi-
Die. Here, as well as in the matter Of
naval construction, the curtailments
demanded by the Reichstag were put
with by the Crown and the Govern
ment. Already at that time the ques-
tlon OF Germany's capabilities of de-
tense of the peoples representatives.
A nation that wished and prepared war
would have adopted quite different
tactics
The more apparent the Entente's
policy of enlightenment and attack be.
came, the more the means of protect.
ing our welfare should have been
strengthened for defensive reasons.
Thls idea OF natural and justified self
protection, by means of defensive mea-
sures against possible hostile attack
was carried out in a wretchedly made
quate manner.
Germany's desire for peace, in fact.
was unable to develop this protection
by land and sea in a manner compati-
bic with her financial and national
strength and with the risk which our
welfare was bound to run in case of a
war. therefore, we are now suffer
ing not from the aggression falsely
imputed TO US, but actually from the
consequences of well-nigh incredible
love OF peace and of blind confidence.
Inc entirely different political prin-
clples OF the Entente have already
Deen described by me, also our con
tlnuous efforts to get upon friendly
terms with the individual Entente ma
tions.
l do rot wish to ignore completely
tne less important work done by Ger
many, also included within the frame
WORK OF politics on large scale, which
was always inspired by the same pur-
pose; to effect compromise of exist
ing points of conflict. The Kiel Regat-
"a brought US guests from all the lead.
ing nations. We sought compromise
with the same zeal on the neutral ter.
rltory of sport as in the domain OF
science by means of exchange profess
ors, and foreign officers were mos,
willingly allowed to inspect our army
system. This latter might be adiudgeG
a mistake, now that we can look back
out, in any event all these points are
certain proofs of our honest desire
to live at peace with all.
Moreover, Germany did not take ad
vantage of single one of the oppor
tunlties that arose for waging wal
with sure prospect of success.
have already pointed out the be
neVolent neutrality of Germany toward
Russia at the time of the Russo-J apa
nese war.
At the time when England was deep
ly involved in the Boer war we might
have fought against England or against
france, which, at that time. would
have been obliged to forego help from
England But We did not do so. Also
while the Russo-Japanese war was in
| progress, we might have fought moi
only against Russia but also against
France. But we did not do so.
In addition to the Morocco crisis
already touched upon, in connection
with which we set aside the idea oil
going to war, we also gave evidence
OF our desire for peace by overcomine
the E-snian crisis by diplomatic
means.
| When one considers these plainly
visible political events as a whole anC
adduces the declarations of Entente
statesmen, such as Poincare, Clemen
ceau, Isvolsky, Tardieu and others
one is bound to ask ones self. IL
amazement, how a peace treaty, found
ed upon Germany's guilt in havins
brought on the World war, could have
been drafted and put through. This
miscarriage of justice will not stand
before the bar of world history.
! A Frenchman, Louis Guetant,. dele
gate from Lyon to the Society for the
Rights of Man, recently made this
statement:
IF We once look upon events with