GERMAN INTRIGUES FOR PEACE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 October 1919, Page 93

GERMAN INTRIGUES FOR PEACE.

ERZBERGER'S ATTACK ON THE JUNKERS. Berlin, July 28. Herr Erzberger yesterday made his great speech in the Waimar Assembly, in which he turned the tables on those who have been attacking him. What is known as "The Erzberger Case" is, thanks to the somewhat maladroit handling of the charges against him by his opponents (among whom Herr Helfferich has been one of the most bitter), developing into a public inquiry into the blame for the war. From what has so far been published, both in the journals and by Herr Erzberger himself in his speech of yesterday, it is sufficiently established, as indeed was well known before without the official and semi-official documentary evidence now coming piecemeal to light, that the military party which started the war, which carried it on, and persisted in its fatal policy till the very end, is the chief offender in the great conspiracy. Herr von Graefe asked whether the means by which the Government overthrew the Monarchy was in accordance with the will of the majority of the German people. "The result of the elections," he maintained, "gave it no right to do so. The majority in the House came into existence by doing violence to the German people, just as the Republican Constitution has now been forced on the German people against the will of the majority." After blaming the revolution and the Government for everything that had befallen Germany, he recalled Herr Erzbarger's former annexationist programme, declaring that a man who misused secret information could not enjoy confidence "Is that all?" began Herr Erzberger in reply. The Government, he declared, would most energetically and relentlessly take up the struggle with the Right. Germany was a Republic, and would remain a Republic in spite of the yells of Herr Graefe and his friends. The Right and the militarists were responsible for Germany's collapse. President Wilson had earnestly tried to mediate for peace, but his efforts were thwarted by the U boat.

Regarding the much-discussed report of Count Czernin, Herr Erzberger declared that this was placed at his disposal to use as he thought fit, on the one condition that he did not reveal the name of the person who handed it to him. At lettst twice (he declared) an honorable peace could have been brought about. The Right, together with the military party, |oth times prevented it (Great commotion,) Herr Erzberger read the following letter from the Papan Nuncio in Munich, Mgr. Eugene Paeelli, to the Imperial Chancellor, Herr Michaelid, dated Munich, August 13, 1917: "Your Excellency,—l have the honor herewith to transmit to you a copy of a telegram which his Excellency the King of England's Minister at the Vatican has handed to the Cardinal Secretary of State. The French Government gives its assent to the statement made in the aforementioned telegram, and his Eminence earnestly desires actively to continue his efforts for the speedy attainment of a just and lasting peace, such as the' Imperial Government has shown such conciliatory readiness to accept. "Your Excellency's attention is particularly drawn to the point in the tele-i gram relative to Belgium with a vie / to obtaining, first, a positive declaration in regard to the Imperial Government's intentions with respect to Belgium's complete independence and compensation for damage caused in Belgium through the war, and, secondly, a definite statement of the guarantees for political, economic, and military independence which Germany desires. "If these declarations have a satisfactory effect, his Eminence thinks that an important step will have been taken towards the further development of negotiations. As a matter of fact, the Minister of Great Britain aforementioned has already informed his Government that the Holy See will reply to communications made in the above-mentioned telegram as soon as it- has received the Imperial Government's reply. "It may just be permitted me, for my part, to give expression to my firm eonviction that by using your influence ill All-Highest quarters on behalf of the Papal proposal and for this peace work your Excellency will gain the eternal thanks of the Fatherland and of the whole of humanity, if a conciliatory reply be obtained which can open up a prospect of peace negotiations." Herr Erzberger continued: "We here have the official step of a neutral' Power which was in a position, such as few were, to judge when a peace move had any prospect of success, a step taken not on its own initiative, but at the express request of the British Government with the express authorisation of the French Government. We have requested the Pope's permission to publish the contents of the British Note, but it has not yet arrived.

"What, however, took place in Berlin will hardly be thought possible. For four weeks no answer was given to Ministers. Then the letter of September 2-t refused to give a declaration, saying that the situation for the giving of such a declaration was not yet sufficiently clear. Thus, for a people which is in the greatest distress, an official despatch is for four weeks not answered and then is declared not satisfactory, (Great commotion.)

"It is tragic and terrible that one Bliould fight for peace and tiiat things should turn out thus. Now we cannot keep silent. We must say to the German people that for two years it was unscrupulously misled. If it had known these things better it would simply have forced peace. . . . Then came 1918. Every attempt to work for reasonableness was thwarted by military means. Th.i reply always was, 'We can wait yet a little while,' and then at the beginning of September came an absolute military collapse. "All these things will, within the next few days, be made known to the German people. It will then be able to see for itself from the documents whether the revolution in Germany forced the armistice after Hindenburg himself had declared in his despatch that if our demands could not be put through an armistice must, nevertheless, be concluded. ... The collapse of Germany was not brought about by the revolution, but by the madness of the country's political-military authorities. It was not the Peace Resolution which paralysed the German power of resistance, but the I collapse was the result of the lack of political insight oh the part of the Conservatives and the Supreme Army Command, who intimidated and terrorised [the German people, and who are »till jiursuing these aims."—Beutw.