The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-09-12

DR.. Oscar Merger, German consul at
Cincinnati. received copies Wednes-
day of the official communications
that passed between the German EN-
peror and King George of England,
just before the outbreak of the war,
and which show, according to Mez-
gers opinion, that Germany did every
thing in its power to have France and
England remain out of the war;
This correspondence, which I will
give below, proves that the Emperor
| was very anxious to have the conflict
| limited with Russia and that he would
never have gone to war with France
had England agreed to guarantee
| Frances neutrality" said Consul Mez-
ger Wednesday. The correspondence
shows that England first asked Ger
| many if Germany would refrain from
an attack on France, If France agreed
to remain neutral. Germany at once
agreed to the proposition, and insist
ed that the British army and fleet
should guarantee Frances neutrality.
But just at the moment when there
were the brightest hopes for keeping
France and England out of the war
the King of England wired to the
Emperor Of Germany that the plan of
keeping these two nations out of the
conflict was misunderstanding
he called off the whole effort toward
limiting the war to Russia and Ger
many"
Official Messages.
Here is the official correspondence
which proves these Statements
"On August /, Prince Lichnowsky
German ambassador at London sent
the following dispatch to the chancel
lOr of the German empire: Sir Ed
ward Grey just called me up on the
telephone and asked me if l thought
that l could declare that in case
France remained neutral in German
Russian war, Germany would not at
tack the French told him believed
I could accept the responsibility fol
such a declaration
"This was followed on August 1, by
the following telegram from Emperor
! William to the King of England: 6
have just received the communication
of your government offering thu
French neutrality under the guarante,
of Great Britain. With this offer tn,
question was asked whether, unde
these conditions Germany would re
3 frain from an attack on France. Fo
l technical reasons my mobilization, al
= ready ordered for this afternoon
e toward two fronts, east and west mus
t continue as prepared. Counter order
:. can not be given for your telegram
n unfortunately, came too late. But
= France offers neutrality, which mus
e be guaranteed by the English arm
and navy, I would Of course desis
from an attack on France and use tn
troops otherwise. I hope France vii
, not become nervous The troops o.
my frontier are at this very momen
} being ordered geographically and tele
9 phonically not to cross the Frenc
frontier
: kaser's Own View.
S This personal view of the Empero
q was also officially endorsed by tn
German government in the followin
y communication of the chancellor Q
d the empire, Bethmann Hollweg, to tn
J. German ambassador at London: Gel
man is prepared to accept the Englis
Il proposal in case Englan, with all it
e military and naval power will gua1
l. antee full French neutrality in tn
e German-Russian conflict. The &c
a man mobilization was ordered tOda
e on account of the Russian provocatio
: and before the English proposals a
/, rived Therefore the assembling
l. our troops on the French frontier ca
r not be countermanded. But we qua
d antee that the French frontier will M
8 be crossed up to p. m. Monday. Au
Y, ust g. awaiting the acceptance of EN-
land till then
s "A sudden end was put to these vel
n hopeful negotiations by the Emperor
&c receipt of the following telegram fro
l King George of England, in whic
d King George says the negotiation
v were based on misunderstanding