View source for Extracts from the Speech of Premier Briand in the French Chamber of Deputies, December 13, 1916

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'''Extracts from the Speech of Premier Briand in the French Chamberof Deputies, December 13, 1916<sup>1</sup>'''<br>

[TRANSLATION]<br>

It is after proclaiming her victory on every front that Germany,<br>
feeling that she can not win, throws out to us certain phrases about <br>
which I can not refrain from making a few remarks. <br>
You have read the speech of Mr. von Bethmann-Hollweg, the Chan-<br>
cellor of the German Empire. On this speech, of which I have not <br>
yet received the official text, I can not express myself officially. These <br>
so-called proposals have not yet been presented to any of the Govern- <br>
ments, and it is rather doubtful whether, under existing conditions, <br>
those who have been asked to act as intermediaries will accept so deli- <br>
cate a task, which may disturb many a conscience. <br>
On this as on all matters I cannot express an official opinion until <br>
we and our Allies have thoroughly considered and discussed the ques- <br>
tion, and reached a full and complete agreement. But I have the <br>
right, indeed the duty, to warn you against this possible poisoning of <br>
our country. <br>
When I see Germany arming herself to the teeth, mobilizing her <br>
entire civil population at the risk of destroying her commerce and her in- <br>
dustries, of breaking up her homes of which she is so proud ; when I <br>
see the fires of all her factories burning red in the manufacture of war <br>
material ; when I see her, in contravention of the law of nations, con- <br>
scripting men in their own countries and forcing them to work for <br>
her, if I did not warn my country, I should be culpable indeed! <br>
Observe, gentlemen, that what they are sending us from over there <br>
is an invitation to discuss peace. It is extended to us under conditions <br>
that are well known to you: Belgium invaded, Serbia invaded, Rou- <br>
mania invaded, ten of our Departments invaded ! This invitation is <br>
in vague and obscure terms, in high-sounding words to mislead the <br>
minds, to stir the conscience, and to trouble the hearts of peoples who <br>
mourn for their countless dead. Gentlemen, this is a crucial moment. <br>
I discern in these declarations the same cry of conscience, ever striving <br>
to deceive neutrals and perhaps also to blind the eyes of those among <br>
the German people whose vision is still unimpaired. "It was not we," <br>
say these declarations, "who let loose this horrible war." <br>
There is one cry constantly on German lips : "We were attacked; <br>
we are defending ourselves ; we are the victims !" To this cry I make <br>
answer for the hundredth time : "No ; you are the aggressors; no mat- <br>
ter what you may say, the facts are there to prove it. The blood is on <br>
your heads, not on ours." <br>
Furthermore, the circumstances in which these proposals are made <br>
are such that I have the right to denounce them as a crafty move, a <br>
clumsy snare. When, after reading words like the following, "We <br>
wish to give to our peoples every liberty they need, every opportunity <br>
to live and to prosper that they may desire," I note in the same docu- <br>
ment that what our enemies so generously offer to other nations is a <br>
sort of charitable promise not to crush them, not to annihilate them, <br>
I exclaim: "Is that what they dare to offer, after the Marne, after <br>
the Yser, after Verdun, to France who stands before them glorious <br>
in her strength?" <br>
We must think over a document like that ; we must consider what it<br>
represents at the moment it is thrown at the world and what its aim is. <br>
The things I am telling you are merely my personal impressions. I <br>
would not be talking thus, were it not my duty to put my country on <br>
her guard against what might bring about her demoralization. It is <br>
not that I doubt her clear-sightedness or her perspicacity. I am <br>
quite sure that she will not allow herself to be duped. But, never- <br>
theless, even before the proposals are officially laid before us, I have <br>
the right to say to you that they are merely a ruse, an attempt to <br>
weaken the bonds of our alliance, to trouble the conscience and to <br>
undermine the courage of our people. <br>
Therefore, gentlemen, with apologies for having spoken at such <br>
length—but you will not reproach me for having taken up this question <br>
—I conclude with the statement that the French Republic will do no <br>
less now than did the Convention, under similar circumstances, at an <br>
earlier period of our history.<br>

<hr>
<sup>1</sup>France: <i>Journal Offciel du 14 decembre 1916, Chambre—Seance du 13 decembre</i>, p. 3638.