19 MAY 1917, Page 1

All that Herr von Bethmann Hollweg said on Tuesday was

a heavy blow to the beliefs of Pacificists. They had persuaded themselves that Germany, having " learnt her lesson," was ready to come to terms. But there is not a trace of this readiness in the speech. The Gorman Government hayo no intention whatever of matching the wise act of the Allies in stating what their general objects are. Poor pussy, after all the stroking of her head, presents the claw instead of the velvet. For the rest, the Chancellor purred

smooth words at Russia, and talked of " the ideal of the freedom of nations " and " restoring the permanent conditions of peaceful life side by side with Russia "—as though Germany had ever behaved in anything but a provocative and intriguing manner towards Russia. The makers of the Russian Revolution are surely not likely to surrender what they have gained in response to Herr von Bethmann Hollweg's very clumsy cajoleries. The whole tenor of the Chancellor's speech required him to present a rosy military picture. Accordingly he declared that the position in the field had never been so favourable for Germany. And this from a Power which has just lost fifty thousand prisoners and hundreds of guns!