IMPERIAL CHANCELLOR'S SPEECH
SURRENDER OF ALSACE-LORRAINE NOT TO BE CONSIDERED BRITISH ABANDONMENT OF NAVAL BASES DEMANDED By Telegraph-Press Aesooiation-Copyrieht (Rec. January 27, 5.5 p.m.) w Kaiser presided at a meeting of the Crown Counc "Vnn Hmdenburg, Von Ludendoff, Count von HerHing, andKubftfn sri tied the terms of Count von Hertling's speech Umami set " n f Imperial Chancellor, addressed the Main Committee of the Reichstag. Hp said that the negotiations at Brest Litovsk weTnro oeeding sloivly, and with difficulty, but he clung to the hope of a, comma greement. the Russian negotiations with the Ukrainians continued favour ably, and ho hoped would soon result in the conclusion of a weatv of a The"Sof •" "rY+t ,8 ?°? ir ' es P eoiall .T from th« economic point of view i E " te ? te Pbwerß * hnvo co-operated in mi l ' r bad expired on January 3, after which Germany was free to proceed with separate negotiations with Russia. .Air. Lloyd George and President ilson had since announced their war aims. ° No Earnest Desire for Peace Shown by British Premier. tt „ M , r , Lloj ' d , s » id tlie Chancellor, showed an alteration in tone He no longer abused, and showed an inclination to negotiate; but he did not show an earnest desire for peace. "Mr. Lloyd George, while apprecS ' cc . onomK v? I1(] cultural position, adjudges he? guilty of the utmost possible crimes, We cannot understand such ' feelings " 'The !wth n Ti X;I° VIeWC A ,H tlla $ ,on > b ®. fore 'ttie war, stating that the alliance Tilth Austria was purely defensive, and was never misused for aggressive nurposes. Ho declared that the late King Edward VII had endeavoured to create an enemy coalition. President Wilson's tone, he said, had chanced' , since his reply to the ,Pope. He no longer talked of the autocratic German tettssGs* ,,,,,, ' iW " - " is -«» Northern France a Valuable Pawn. W ™ concedes the territorial integrity of the Central Empires, the Chancellor concluded. "I shall reject all proposals to SXfttt from the joint general negotiations." He prof ormnnv t France was a valuable pawn in Germany's hands. Germany did not wish violent annexation, but the conditions of evacuation talk S ai be r eon ? ranco , .? 1 , ld Germany. There could not be any talk of ceding Alsace-Lorraine, which was German in 1789, when Franco incorporated it, and 87 per cent, of the population now speak German Demand that England Should Abandon Naval Points D'Appui. , H( -' rtlin -> A! 1 welcoming President Wilson's reference to the freedom of the seas, said it was of thehighest importance that England should abandon Gibraltar, Malta, Aden, Hong-kong, the Falklauds, and other strong fnH.W 1 appm ' r t 6 ettlement of Poland must be arranged by Germany and Austu.i alone. Count Hertling said he did not anticipate difficulties oP r n dlplomaC) '> / e v° if,ion of trade barriers, and reduction of armaments. Germany was ready to discuss the basis of a League of Nations when all otlior questions were settled. h canons Points for Negotiation. 'Wm+^n Wll ? on .' s , and Mr - Lloyd George's statements," he continued, contain certain principles for' worltf p ence to which Germany can also agree and which can form points for negotiation, but where concrete questions are concerned, the Allies will for peace is less observable. They speak as conquerors to conquered. The_actual situation is that our position was never so favourable. If our enemies force us to continue, then they must take the consequences. If tne Allies alter their programme of peace wo will test it earnestly, for our aim is to reconstruct a durable general peace. This IS impossible while the lasting integrity of the German Empire, the security of its vital interests, and its dignity as a Fatherland aro not ensured." Tho German Motto. Ho concluded: "Our motto is: 'Remain together and calmly await events. We are entirely agreed in this aim. There may be varying'opinion* as to methods and conditions, but th rough all differences let us be ever mindful of the Fatherland's welfare and a. good peace will and shall come. 1 he German workers know how to differentiate bviA'ecn realities of life and fantastio dreams, ar.ch a nation cannot go under. God is with us and will remain wun us." (Checrs.)-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DIFFICULTY OF THE COLONIAL QUESTION (Reo. January 28, 1.10 a.m.) n i IT XV • , . Copenhagen, January 27 Count Hertling, in replying to President .Wilson, said there would be some difficulty regarding the colonial question, because it was most important to England, but President \\ilson s proposal could be considered in conjunction with Germany's demand for colonies. "I believe," he said, "it con d be left to the greatest Colonial Empire, namely, the British, to make up its mind concerning America's proposal. When such an Anglo-American agreement was reached, we could see what agreement would be possible at the oeaco negotiations from our side, since we also advocate a new construction of tho colonial situation. He added that the evacuation of Russia concerned only Russia and the Central Empires. The Belgian question could only be settled at a peace conference, but Germany had never demanded the violent incorporation of Belgian territory.—Renter. CRITICISM BY SOCIALIST LEADER PRESIDENT WILSON'S MESSAGE AN HONEST DECLARATION (Rec. January 27, 5.5 p.m.) , c xt. n l , -n Copenhagen, January 25. Tfte leaders of the Central Party and the National Liberal Party supported Count Her time, Herr Scheidemann regretted that Count Hertling
did not regard President Wilson's message as an honest declaration tending to peace, and declared definitely that Alsace-Lorraine must remain German. He added that the submarino campaign had proved unsuccessful and had only drawn America into the war. Herr Hoffmann had adopted the wrong tone at Brest Litovsk.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. * RECEPTION OF THE SPEECH IN GERMANY AUSTRIAN PRESS MARKEDLY COOL. (Ree. January 27, 5.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, January 2(5. Cologne reports state that Count Hertling's speech has been well received in moderate German circles, where the fact that the Chancellor discussed President Wilson's speech foriatim is regarded as of considerable importance. Germany now believes that the Alsace question has been finally settled and that the legend of her plans for the annexation of Belgium and France has been exploded. The Independent Socialists and Conservatives reproach Count Hertling with not defining war aims. The Austrian, Press receives the speech with marked coolness. _ Dutch newspapers observo that tho speech brings peace no nearer rejects President Wilson's terms, except those advantageous to Germariy.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. LONDON PRESS OPINIONS "THE SPEECH BANGS THE DOOR ON' PEACE. (Rec. January 27, 5.5 p.m.) . London, January 26. The newspapers characterise Count Hertling's spcech as insolent, bombastic, and arrogant. The wily Hun's idea is to negotiate with each enemy separately. The speech bangs the door on peace. Tho newspapers are particularly indignant at Germany regarding Belgium and Northern France as patfns, and ridicule the idea of Gibraltar and Hong-Kong being cedcd. The tone or Count Hertlmg's and Count Czornin's speeches differs, but it is evident that both Counts are playing a gigantic game of pool.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn, SPEECH BY COUNT CZERNIN "AUSTRIA .WILL SUPPORT GERMANY AND TURKEY TO THE UTMOST." (Reo. January 27, 5.5 p.m.) n. i n • , . London, January 25. Count C/zernin, m a speech m tho R'eiclisrath, said it was not intended to demand »• single square metre of .Russian territory or a single centime of I'llnu™ 'i' population of Poland shall decide its cwn fate," he said. This question must not delay peace for a single day. Interpretation of tho people s light of free action has caused a difference between Russia and Germany, but a compromise must be reached. Tho difference is insufficient to cause a cessation of negotiations. When peace with Russia is sccured a world peace cannot be prevented. President Wilson's speech marks an important advance towards the Austrian standpoint, hut Austria will support Germany and, Turkey to the utmost. Austria will reject all advice on domestic altairs. Austria and America practically agree en the great principles of the new world settlement after tho war, and our vioivs on several concrete peace questions approach agreement. Our differences are insufficient to prevent complete agreement. Exchanges of Austrian and American views might torn a starting point for conciliatory discussion between all tho States which have not yet entered into negotiation a."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. AMERICAN CRITICISM OP'THE SPEECHES "MILITARISTS STILL CONTROL GERMAN DIPLOMACY" (Rec. January 27, 5.5 p.m.) r, .TT , , . , , Washington, January 25. .... (jOUr J t Hertlinga speech is regarded as indicating that tho militarists still control German diplomacy. Its arrogant claims are intended to deceive the wor d m regard to Germany's roal weakness and desire for peace. Count Uzernin s statement is interpreted as meaning that Germany cannot rely on Austria s support in a war of conquest. Tho speeches make peace moro remote America adheres absolutely tp President Wilson's war aims.-rAus.-N Z Cable Assn.
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Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 11, 28 January 1918, Page 5
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1,466IMPERIAL CHANCELLOR'S SPEECH Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 11, 28 January 1918, Page 5
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