BETHMANN'S TERMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 24, 23 October 1917, Page 6

BETHMANN'S TERMS

MR. GERARD'S REVELATION. The impudence of Bethmann-Hollweg s "Peace Note" of last December is shown by the following revelation by Mr. Gerard, ex-American Ambassador at Berlin, and published in tho "Daily Telegraph." From the time when Chancellor Hollweg first spoke of peace I (writes Mr. Gerard) hattf asked him and others what the penoe terms of Germany -were. I coukl never get anyone to state any definite terms of peace. On several ;c- - I asked tho'_ Chancellor whether Germany were willing to withdraw from Belgium he always Elu .a, "Ye= but with guarantees." Finally, in January, 1917 (i.e., just after the "Peace Noto" was sent out), when he was again talking of peace, I said: "What are these peace terms to whicn vou refer continually? Will you allow ine to ask ft few questions as to specific terms of peace? First, are the Germans willing) to withdraw from Belgium?' The Chancellor answered, "les, but with guarantees." I said: "What are these guarantee? He replied: "We must possibly have the forts of Liege and Namur. We must have other forts and garrisons throughout Belgium. We must have ;>ossesI sion of the railroad lines. Wp must, have possession of the ports ana other means of communication. The Belgians will not be allowed to maintain an army, but we must he allowed to retain a largo army in Belgium. We must ( have a commercial control of Bolgium. _ I said: "I don't seo that you have lett much for the Belgians, excepting that King Albert will have the right to reside at Brussels with-a. guard of honour. And the Chancellor answered: "Wo cannot allow Belgium to be an outpost (Vorwerk) of England." "I do not suppose the English, on the other hand, wish it to become an cutpost of Germany," I returned, especially as Tirpitz said the coast of I' landers should be retained in order to roako war on England and .America." I then asked: "How aboiit Northern France?" • ~ "We are willing to leave Northern France," tho Chancellor responded "but there must be a rectification of the fl "How about the eastern frontier?" I asked him. ' "We must havo a very substantial rectification of our frontier." "How about Rumania? "We shall leave Bulgaria to deal <rtn Bumania." "How aliout Serbia?" "4 very small Serbia may bo allowed to exist, but that' question is for Austria. Austria must be left to do what she wishes to Italy, and wo must lu-.ve indemnities from all the countries ana all our ships and colonics back.