GERMANY'S CHANGED TONE.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 August 1918, Page 4

GERMANY'S CHANGED TONE.

-DR.; SOUP'S RECENT STATEMEST,

LORD -ROBERT CECIL'S E|TOg|ig*t ..'■--■ ~ REELY. /

Received Aogu»t2s, &5 p.m.

London..August U. Lord Robert Cecil, in a statenjent.cn Dr. Self's speech, say? that Dr. &olf' fl remarkable utterances represent a considerable change, mainly, directed to; ! America's opinion- Dr. Splf -has bogim to realise that the Iran-Gernjan doctrine is disastrous, and refers to such prin-' ciples are being held only (by a small group, without /political or Government influence. He claims that the Government has strongly comfoatted them. '"Nevertheless," (Lord Robert Cecil adds, "the Pan-German*, or iasegreat influence in Germany.' Only a few weeks, ago they exhibited their power by scpar. ing Baron von Kwblmann's dismissal because of his view that there w« no likelihood of Germany .being abfo 40 (seeme a nubtary decision in her favor. Dt Solfs statement regarding Belgium nw doulbtedly represents a step towards decency. He says that Belgium wotdd not *o any nation's vassal, intl vc-n Hurtling recently said the same thing with serious qualifications, notably that iherS would be close commercial connection with Germany. Hence Dr. Solfs statement is extremely unsatisfactory, especially as Dr. Solf reminded Ms bearers of von (Bertling's promises. If Dr. Solf Wishes to indicate Germany's wHßngness fto liberate and restore Be?gSum; fet-ifis Isay so plainly. , "Dr. Solfs assertion that Germany, fcy the ißrest-Citovsk treaty, inaugurated; t number of small States which Germany at tbeir request will protect temporarily, shows a change in the .people of QeN many, who hitherto regarded the BreitLitovsk treaty as the first fruits of vie-, toy. Dr. Solf vaguely claims that the colonies shall revert U Germany.' He particularly reprehends :he suggestion that Germany has not givni a good ac- • count of her stewardship of the colored races. I believe Genrany's treatment of colored peoples has been brutal and re- | pugnant. The Government intends soon ! to publish a record of Germany's colonial misrule.

"When' Mr. Balfour said the coldaiea won't be restored,' ho reflected the consensus of the opinion pf the world i Acquainted with colonial record. Dr. Solf was wrong rn saying that we chiimed the right to annex th«n. Mr. Balfour had said <?at their fate would te decided at ,the Peace Conference. What Mr. Balfour ruled' out was the suggestion that they should be re-i turned to Germany,' Dr. golf's references to war's evils, and miseries is only .too tm». but it representa an entire change in German feeling, even since last April, when Hirdenburg's extravagant war aims were in the' ascendant. ' T

"Dr. Solf claims to be the upholder df the League of Nations. I tell Dr. Solf that it would be criminal not to achieve the international system which is better than the present system, but we see no hope thereof unless the Entente is, victorious and Germany acknowledges that her whole system is a profound error."—■ Press Assoc