Germany

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 26, 31 May 1915, Page 5

Germany

CHANCELLOR IN A RAGE.

“ITALY’S VIOLATION OF FAITH.”

(j.ITTBD PR**® AP«om*Ttn-«r Amsterdam, May 29

Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg, in a violent outburst in the Reichstag, said Italy had inscribed in the book oi history her violation of faith in ineffacahle letters of blood. It was her war, and she directly made war, as nobody (threatened Italy, neither AustriaHungary nor Germany. She might without' bolodshed have secured a long list of concessions. Perhaps she wished to conquer the German Tyrol, and if so it was “hands off.” He denied the offers came too late, for Italy had engaged herself long beforehand so deeply with the Triple Entente that she was unable to disentangle herself. The Cabinet at Rome had manifested fluctuations as far back as December, and had shown that it was always useful to have two irons in the fire. Italy had before shown a predilection for extra dances, but this was no ballroom. It was a bloody battlefield, on which Germany and Austria-Hungary were fighting for their lives against the world. Pigmies among Italian statesmen played against Italy the same game as against the Triplice. The majority in Parliament and of the people early in May did not desire war. but commonsense. The mob alone ruled. With the assistance of leading statesmen of the Cabinet, and fed with the Entente’s gold, the mob under the guidance of unscrupulous war agitators, was roused to a frenzy for blood and threatened the King with revolution and all moderate men with murder unless they joined in the war delirium. Italians were intentionallykept in tlie dark regarding Austria’s far-reaching concessions. In the frenzy for war,-honest politicians grew dumb. After paying a tribute to Prince von Buelow’s efforts and predicting the central Powers would triumph, he eulogised Turkey’s victorious resistance at the Dardanelles .' “Our enemies,” he said, “vainly summoned against us all the forces of the'World. It is a gigantic coalition of brave soldiers, and we do not despise our enemies as our adversaries like to do.” He ridiculed the British Government’s publication of evidence of unnamed witnesses ot the alleged cruelties in Belgium. They were so monstrous that only mad brains could believe. He accused France of concealing severe losses of the Allies in the east and west, and added; “We are relying on a good conscience and a just cause for a victorious sword. We will not allow ourselves to be forced a hairsbreadth from the path, for we always recognised we were right. Not in hatred, but in holy anger, do we wage this war. The more wildly the storm rages the more firmly must you build you house for loyal co-operation throughout, and earning your Kaiser’s warm thanks.” Prolonged applause followed the speech, the abusive passages of which were received with frantic cheers. THE REICHSTAG ADJOURNED. (Received 9 a.m.) Amsterdam, May 30. . The Reichstag has been adjourned until 10th August.