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HOPE OF PEACE GONE SAYS HERTLING The German chancellor von Hertling says the hope of an early peace is doomed by the decision of the Allies to crush kaiserism He says saysI I maintain the standpoint of the imperial reply to the peace note of Pope Benedict The pacific spirit which inspired this reply has also inspired me At the time however I added that this spirit must not give our enemies free conduct for an interminable continuation of the war warWhat What have we lived to see however While for years there can have been no doubt whatever of our willingness to hold out our hand toward an honor ¬ able peace we have heard until these last few days inciting speeches delivered by enemy statesmen President Wilson wants war until we are destroyed and what Mr Halfour the British secretary of state for foreign affairs has said must really drive the flush of anger to the cheeks of every German GermanWe We feel for the honor of our fatherland ami we cannot allow ourselves to be constantly and openly insulted ill this manner and behind these insults is the desire for our destruction As long as this desire for our destruction exists we must endure together with onr faithful nation nationI I am also convinced I know it that in the widest circles of our nation the same serious feeling exists everywhere As long as the desire for our destruction exists we must hold out and we will hold out with confidence in our troops in our army administration and our magnificent nation which bears so wonderfully these difficult times with their great privations and continuous sacri ¬ fices
