AUSTRO-GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 February 1918, Page 5

AUSTRO-GERMANY.

HERTLING ON PEACE. UNBLUSHING HYPOCRISY. Amsterdam, Feb. 20. Count Hertling, in a speech in the deichstag, said that every desirable peace must be built upon justice. He agreed with President Wilson's declaration that .Rations and provinces ought not to be shifted from one State to another and rejoiced in Mr. Wilson's statement relating the idea of the balance of power. Germany's advance eastward was only limed at renewing the peace with Russia. Her aim was not conquest, .she merely nanted to restore order without fixing Herself in Estbonia or Livonia. As to Courland and Lithuania he ha« apthing to say. The people there were ilr&ady successfully creating self-govern-ng bodies. Respecting Ronmania he would state :hat they must and would make friends '6r ill time. He-doubted" the ability >f public speeches bv statesmen, but the rourse of peace could be furthered by pri- . rite,.discussion between responsible representatives of the belligerents. The question of Belgium should be dis'ussed in a friendly manner in order to irrive' at an understanding.' Germany wid repeatedly declared tnat .she did not think of retaining Belgium, but fter- \ inany mrist be protected against Mairnn being' used as a deploying ground for many machinations. ARTFUL ARGUMENTS. £0 PLACE BLAME ON THE ENTENTE Received Feb'. 27, 5.20 p.m. Amsterdam, Feb. 2G. With Tegard to Poland, the intention to arrange an agreement between Ukraine and Poland had already had re- / assuring effect in Polish circles. Germany intended only to claim the rectifi- .. ration of her side of the frontier, which uras necessary through military reasons. The world, in eager expectancy, was now Mking whether the way to a general i(UI had been opened. The Entente eaoerg seemed still adverse to the voice >f humanity and reason, and adhered to Iheir plans of conquest, including Alsace- ■ Lbmine. There was no Alsace-Lorraine question in the international sense. If it listed, it was purely a German question. The Entente claimed Austrian territory for'•ltaly; while England was fighting :or the, separation of Palestine and Syria from Turkey, and for Germany's African colonies. Baron Hertling 'referred to the intrigues to incite neutrals against Germany. There was no thought of Germany violating Swiss neutrality. The '" .Torld longed for peace, but the enemy roverameiits wanted to continue the war so the end. It was, however, true that Stlier voices were heard in England, and ie trusted that such utterances would be ' sore frequent The world stands faced ivith the greater decision for all time, lither the enemies must decide to make jeace, on which presumption we are prepared to enter negotiations; or to eonIhrae th; war, in which ease we will eon.imie, bat the responsibility for bloodshed irill fall on those who obstinattly refuse » listen to the voice of reason. i I i !