TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1914-09-10
Efforts BY Germany Il
have Allies Of Russia
stay out Of war.
By CONSUL MEzGER

II DR.. Oscar Merger, German Consui ~
Cincinnati. received copies wednesday
of the official communications thAs
passed between the German Emperor
and King George Of England, just before
the outbreak OF the war, and which
show, according to Mezger's opinion
that Germany did everything IN ts
power to have France and England re-
main out Of the war.
1 This correspondence, which give
below, proves that the Emperor was
very anxious to have the conflict limited
with Russia and that be would never
have gone to war with France had Eng
land agreed TO guarantee Frances neu'
trality,r said Consul Mezger Wednesday.
The correspondence shows that Eng
land first asked Germany whether Ger
many would refrain FROM an attack on
France, II France agreed to remain neu-
tral. Germany at once agreed 70 the
/ proposition and insisted that the British
4 army and fleet should guarantee
frances neutrality. But, just at the
moment, when there we're the brightest
hopes for keeping France and Engiand
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 a inisunder-
standing anil he called off the whole
effort toward limiting the war 10 Russia
and Germany.
Here Is the official correspondents
which proves these statements:
On August Prince Lichnowsky,
German ambassador ut London, sent the
/ following dispatch 10 the Chancellor OF
the German Empire;
4 "A ~ an
me up on the telephone and asked
me II / thought that ] could de-
clare that, in case France remained
neutral in German. Russian war,
| Germany wonld not attack the
| French. 1 told him / believed
| could accept the responsibility Tor
such n declaration
| This was followed ON August by the
| liam to the king of England:
+, i have just received the coinmu-
nication Of your government offer
ing the French neutrality under the
guarantee OF Great Britain. With
this offer the question was asked
whether, under these conditions,
Germany would refrain from an at
tack on France. For technical rea-
sons my mobilization, already or
dered for this afternoon toward two
fronts, east and west, must continue
as prepared. Counter orders can
not begiven, for your telegram. un-
fortunately, came too late. But. II
France offers neutrality, which
must be guaranteed by the English
army and nayy,J would, OF course,
desist from an attack on France and
use the troops otherwise. hope
France will not become nervous
The troops on nv frontier are at
this very moment being ordered
GEOGRAPHICALLY and telephonically
not to cross the French frontier
This personal view Of the emperor
was also officially endorsed by the Ger
man government in the following com
miiBication of the chancellor OF the
empire, Bethmann Hoilweg, to the Ger
man ambassador at London:
!, Germany Is prepared to accept
the English proposal In case Eng
land, with all its military and naval
power, will guarantee full French
neutrality in the German. Russian
conflict Tho German mobilization
was ordered to-day on account OF
the Russian porvocation and before
fore, the assembling of our troops
on the French frontier can not be
countermanied But we guarantee
that the French frontier will not
be crossed up to p. m. Monday,
August 3, awaiting the acceptance
Of England till them
"A sudden end was put to these very
hopeful negotiations by the emperor's
receipt Of the following telegram from
King George OF England, in which King
George says the negotiations were based
on a Misunderstanding;
- In answering your telegram
that has just arrived, J believe that
a misunderstanding must prevail in
reference 10 a suggestion made dur
Ing friendly conversation between
Prince Lichnowsky and Sir Edward
Grey, as they discussed how actual
liostilities between the German and
French armies might he prevented.
ss long as the possibility OF an
Russia remained. Tomorrow morn.
ing Sir Edward Grey win call upon
Prince ,LichnowsIy to see whether
the Misunderstanding was on his
tGrey'sl side.'
ne Irnnit VI tbI NOHfEfn8tio8 br"
tween Prince Lichnowsky and Sir Ed
ward Grey was given in the following
Telegram by Lichnowsky to the German
}, The suggestions OF Sir Edward
Grey, resting on the desire 70 make
permanent English neutrality poe
sible, were made without first
sounding French views and without
knowledge of the mobilization. and
have therefor been given up In
the meantime as futile
As tho world knows. England later
went 10 war under the pretense Of de-
Tending Belgian neutrality. In this
connection the latest news OF English
violations Of Spanish and American
neutrality are interesting. The German
auxiliary cruiser Kaiser wilhelm der
Crosse was attacked and sunk In neutral
Spanish coast waters by an English
.ruiser England has just now, In yio-
alton OF the laws Of the international
postal union, seized neutral American
Mail bags on neutral Dutch ships.r
" n Nn NJ