New York Times 100 years ago today, April 8, 1913:
But the Imperial Chancellor Sees Peril in Pan-Slavism and New French Spirit.
DOES NOT EXPECT A WAR
Declares, However, Germany Must Be Prepared for One — Country Would Unhesitatingly Aid Austria.
By Marconi Transatlantic Wireless Telegraph to The New York Times.
    BERLIN, April 7.— Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg's speech, introducing the bill for the expenditure of $262,500,000 for the increase of the Fatherland's armaments, was made to-day to a crowded Reichstag. The galleries were overflowing, while the royal box was occupied by Prince Oscar and the Kaiser's Adjutant General, Gen. von Plessen.
    The house listened to the Imperial Chancellor's speech with the liveliest interest. His references to England seemed friendly, though not particularly demonstrative, but the Chancellor's manner was not designed to create enthusiasm.
    The gravity of his remarks on Germany's military position made an unmistakably deep impression, and when he resumed his seat after speaking for forty-five minutes there was a chorus of cheers, punctuated by hisses and other signs of disapproval from the Socialist benches.

    BERLIN, April 7.— Dr. von Bethmann-Hollweg, the Imperial Chancellor, in submitting tho Government's bill increasing the army and introducing new forms of taxation in the Imperial Parliament, to-day delivered a striking speech of which the keynote was. "A European, conflagration in all probability will not occur, but, if outside forces should threaten us, Germany must stand ready with her last man."
    The good intentions of the French and Russian Governments were beyond question, declared the Chancellor, but Germany must reckon with the great force, of modern public opinion which in the form of French warlike patriotism and Russian Pan-Slavism, threatened the peace of the world against the wishes of the great masses of both peoples.
    It was noteworthy that in the Chancellor's speech Great Britain was referred to only as a pacific factor. Dr. von Bethmann-Hollweg, although indicating by his manner that he had little belief in the practicability of the suggestion made by Winston Spencer Churchill, the First Lord of the British Admiralty, for a year's "naval holiday," said Germany was willing to consider concrete proposals from the British Government.
    The Chancellor opened his speech by pointing out that the strength of the army had not kept pace with the growth of the German nation, and asked: Could Germany allow itself the luxury of dispensing with tens of thousands of trained soldiers?
    Conditions in Europe, he said, had been radically changed by the Balkan war, which had substituted for passive European Turkey other States of feverish political activity. They were, he continued, factors of progress, indeed, but should a great European conflagration between Germanism and Pan-Slavism come this change would alter the balance in Germany's disfavor. This, however, he said, "does not alter my belief that this conflict will probably bo avoided."
    The Chancellor declared he had made special efforts since assuming office to cultivate good relations with Russia, and he believed the Russian ruler and the Russian Ministers reciprocated the feeling, but the events of the war had greatly strengthened the Pan-Slavic current in Russia, which was a danger to peace.