Evening star., 1915-01-25
WHY He SAID TREATY -
WAS "SCRAP OF PAPER"
German Imperial Chancellor Ex-
plains His Conversation With
British Ambassador.

GENERAL FIELD HEADQUARTERS
OF THE GERMAN ARMIES Gn
| Franco, via Berlin and London. Jan
uary 25.-"I am surprised to learn that
my phrase "A scrap of paper which /
used in my last conversation with the
British ambassador in reference to the
Belgian neutrality treaty, should have
caused such an unfavorable impression
in the United States. The expression
was used in quite another connection
and the meaning implied in Sir Will
liam Edward GoschenS report and the
turn given to it in the biased comment
of our enemies are undoubtedly re-
sponsible for this impression.
The speaker was DR.. Theobald Won
Bethmann-H -Ho!lWeg. the German i'm
perial chancellor, and the conversation
with a representative of the Associated
Press occurred at the German army
field HEADQUARTERS, in town OF north
ern France. and in villa serving as
the Office and dwelling for the imperial
chancellor, for the foreign minister,
Gottlieb Won Jagow, and for the MEM
bers of the diplomatic suites accom-
panying Emperor William afield.
Explanation of His Meaning.
The chancellor apparently had not
relished the subject until his attention
was called to the extent which the
phrase had been used in discussion on
the responsibility of the war. He then
volunteered to give an explanation Of
his meaning, which in substance was
that he had spoken Of the treaty not as
a scrap of paper for Germany. but as
an instrument which had become obso-
lete through Belgiums forfeiture of its
neutrality, and that Great Britain had
quite other reasons for entering into
the war. compared with which the neu-
trality treaty appeared to have only
the value of a scrap of paper.
England drew the sword" continued
the chancellor. "only because it be.
lieved its own interests demanded it.
Just for Belgian neutrality it would
never have entered the war. That is
what I meant when I told Sir William
Goschen in that last interview. when
We sat down to talk the matter over
privately, man to man, that among the
reasons which had imDelled England
to go into the war the Belgian neu-
trality treaty had for her only the
value OF a, scrap of paper.
Recalled Efforts for Peace.
II may have been a bit excited and
aroused" said the chancellor. "Who
would not have been at seeing the
hopes and the work Of the whole period
of my chancellorship going for naught.
1 recalled to the ambassador my efforts
for years to bring about an under
standing between England and Ger
many: an understanding which, I re-
minded him, would have made q gen.
eral European war impossible. and
which absolutely would have guar&n-
teed the peace of Europe.
"Such an understanding" the chan
celIor interjected parentheticalfy.
would have formed the basis on which
we could have approached the United
States as a.third partner. but England
had not taken up this plan and through
its entry into the war had destroyed
forever the hope of it's fulfllment.
Remember, too, that Sir Edward
Grey expressedly refused to assure US
of England's neutrality even In the
event that Germany respected Belgian
neutrality.
United States as Partner.
Il can understand, therefore, the Eng
lish displeasure at my characterize
tion of the treaty of 1889 as scrap Of
paper. for this scrap OF paper was for
England extremely valuable, furnish
ing an excuse before the world for en-
barking in the war.
'T hope, however, that in the United
States you will see clearly enough that