ANOTHER SIDE-SLIP BY THE GERMAN CHANCELLOR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2927, 13 November 1916, Page 6

ANOTHER SIDE-SLIP BY THE GERMAN CHANCELLOR

BRITAIN BLAMED FOR THE WAR Australian-New Zealand Cable Association, Amsterdam, November 10. . Herr von. Bethmann-Hollweg (Imperial Chancellor), replying to Viscount Grey's statement last month, said that Russia's mobilisation began tho war. Viscount Grey's statement was based on an edition of tho "Lokal Anzoiger" of July 30, 1914, which falsely announced the German mobilisation. The Chancellor detailed what he described as tho annexation proposals of Germany's enemies. Ho alleged that Russia had designs on Constantinople, which Britain and France had guaranteed, and that tho French designed to secure Alsace-Lorrainc. Ho "had never proclaimed that Germany had intended to annex Belgium. England had joined in the war because Germany's .peaceful enterprises had become too great. It was Europe's unlucky fate that Britain favoured the French and Russian schemes of conquest. It was not. Prussian militarism, but the hem-ming-in policy of its adversaries, which had caused the war. When flie wa? was concluded, and the immensity of the catastrophe was realised, there would be an dutcry for peaceful settlements of future quarrels. Germany would assist in that direction. WHAT VISCOUNT GREY SAID. Speaking at a luncheon in London to foreign pressmen on October 23, Viscount- Grey, Secretary of Stato for Foreign Affairs, said that the Allies must succeed in this war; they must not forget how the war had originated. Germany's statesmen talked of peace, and said Germany must have guarantees against future attacks. If Britain had forced the war on Germany that would be a logical statement; but, precisely because the war was. not forced on Germany, but upon Europe by Germany, the Allies must havo guarantees for future peace. Viscount Grey reviewed tho negotiations before tho war, showing that Germ'any alone refused a pacific conference. All efforts to avoid war had failed because the will for war existed at Berlin. "It is because we have had this experience," said Viscount Grey, "that we are determined that the war will not end uittil we are sure that future generations shall not be subjected to such a [terrible trial again." There must be Ino end to this war, nor any peace, excepting a peace which shall ensure to tho; nations of Europe freedom from Prussian militarism. We should not think of what Germany is saying today. but of what her Government and people expected when the war was started. Eminent Germans then avowed that Germany's object was to dictate peace to Europe. Individual nations must surrender their sovereignty. Germany's efforts to separate the Allies only confirmed their resolve to go through to the end If the nations desired to do something more effective than was done before the war in order to maintain peace by common action they should undertake only what they are prepared to uphold by force. We all favour. peace-safe-guards, but we say to neutrals that wo shall ask them when the time comes for them to make demands on us: "Will you also play up?" When that timo comes something more than the signatures of Sovereigns and Presidents is'needed to make a thing like that worth while. It must have behind it Parliament and national sympathies.

GERMAN CHANCELLOR GROWS HUMBLE CReutcr's Teleeram.i (R-ec. November 11, 2.50 p.m.) Amsterdam, November 10. In the Reichstag all parties welcomed Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg's declaration that Germany was willing to join an International Peace Union. In reply to the Conservative spokesmen and the representative of the Socialist minority, he pointed out that Viscount Grey had never advocated the boycott or destruction of Germany, and also declared that peace would he impossible if Belgium were reduced to a vassal state. The _ "Preismuize Zeitung" says: "Now is the time for the. Entente, especially England, to produce a peace programme." , The "Vorwaerts" hopes that Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg's speech may help to dissipate the clouds of hostile distrust. GERMANY'S'WAR LOSSES IN OCTOBER A terrible' swathe. Au6tralian-New Zealand Cable Association. London, November 10. The German casualties officially reported for October are 199,675, of which 32,544 were killed, making the total for the war 3,755,693, of which 855,817 were killed. GRAVES OF HUNGARIAN DEAD CARPATHIANS A VAST CEMETERY. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. London, November 10. The "Morning Post's" Budapest correspondent states that the Hungarian National Committee which has been entrusted with the care of the graves of soldiers, has reported that researches in the Northern Carpathians resulted in the discovery of 200,000 graves of Austria-Hungarian and German soldiers. The figures provo that over a quartor of a million were killed in the Carpathians in tho winter of 1914-15, the men being largely Hungarians. The news has caused the greatest depression. The report says that the Carpathians are a vast cemetery, also from Orsova to Uzsok Pass. Seven thousand, men are employed in identifying the graves, and tho work must bo completed before tho snows obliterate all traces.

CHEAP FOOD AND PEACE DEMONSTRATION Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Rec. November 12, 5.5 p.m.) Zurioh, Novomber 11. Socialist leaders headed a procession of eighty thousand people through the streets of Dresden. They marched to the Ministry of the Interior, where a deputation demanded food and immediate peace, and desired that the Government of Saxony should ma.ko representations to Berlin. Tho Minister admitted the justice of the complaints about the dearness of food, but said ho could not act in Berlin in favour of peace. The-procession then proceeded to tho Town Hall. Tho proceedings were orderly throughout.