GERMANY LEARNS THE TRUTH.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1919, Page 10

GERMANY LEARNS THE TRUTH.

THE DECEPTIONS OF 1917, PART OP THE EX-KAISER. Herr Erzberger's position, and consequently that of the Government, was j again strengthened yesterday by the great debate at Waimar. The proceedings throughout were very stormy, and passions were roused to fever heat. The circumstances of the abortive peace efforts in the late summer of 1917 were explained as follows: The despatch (which was read) sent by Great Britain to the Vatican for communication to Germany was not an independent peace step, but connected with the peace action of the Vatican. Before Great Britain or the Allies could take any steps with regard to the Papal Note, it was necessary that certain preliminary questions should he answered by Germany. The most prominent of these was the Belgian question. Even before the British despatch had been communicated by the Nuncio Pacejli to the German Government, the German Government had got into touch with Great Britain through a Spanish diplomatist, and Great Britain had declared herself ready to receive a communication from Germany. Meanwhile, on September 5, the British despatch arrived via Rome. The CrowD Council was held on.September 11, but no notes could be found at the Foreign Office as to how it passed off. a letter: TO HINDENBURG. On the other hand, the Chancellor, Dr. Michaelis, addressed a letter to Field Marshal von Hindenburg, in which he expressed agreement with an economicopolitical attachment of Belgium to Germany and with the demand for a tract of country for the sake of security. On September 15 Hindenburg "expressed himself in favor of the retention of this tract and in favor of the retention of Liege, et. He added to, Iris letter a memorandum of Ludendorff's which went much further, and demanded, among other things, the permanent occupation of the banks of the Meuse. Thus, although, Dr. Michaelis, and therefore the Imperial Government, had* come to an agreement on a solution of the Belgian problem, which some Germans consider was even worse than downright annexation, the Chancellor reconciled it with his conscience to assure the leaders of the Reichstag majority, who had bound themselves to the well-known peace resolution, that even in the Belgian questio their views would be complied with. A dilatory and evasive answer was given, without the knowledge of the Reichstag, for transmission to Great Britain, with the observation that the ultimate position to be adopted could only be made known later. Nothing more was' done. LudendorrPs assumption of ignorance of all theso tilings is strongly commented upon, and so also is the silence of Herr von Kuhlmann. HERR BAUER ON THE KAISER. Among the points raised was the alleged innocence of the ex-Kaiser of responsibility for the war. The Prime Minister, Herr Bauer, replying to some observations by a previous speaker about "the Peace Kaiser," referred to the ex-Kaiser as "this person," saying he had always left liim out of consideration, but that if he was to be-.introduced.into. .the discussion he would cut a very bad figure when the facts came to be known. The Government was willing that all the documents should be published, and did not wish to anticipate the judgment that would be passed when they came to the knowledge of the public. Berlin, July 29.—The National Assembly today finally rejected, by 243 votes to 53", the Right Parties' motion of lack of confidence in the Government. It then passed a vote of confidence by a big majority.—Reuter. j