Evening star., 1915-02-13
Says British Official Withheld
German 0vertures From
Parliament.
PROMISE OF AID TO RUSSIA
AND FRANCE is ALLEGED
Missouri Representative, in Speech
Before Brightwood Citizens, De-
tends Kaiser's Attitude.

Blame for the European war was laid
at the door of Sir Edward Grey. secre-
tary of state for foreign affairs OF Great
Britain. by Representative Richard
Bartholdt of Missouri. in an address de-
Hvered last night before the Brightwood
Citizens Association.
The head of the British foreign office
was charged by Mr.. Bartholdt with hav-
ing promised Russia and France, prior TO
the formal declarations of war, that Eng
land would join them. and with having
Withheld from parliament overtures
made at the last moment by Germany
+overtures which would have prevent
ed war. the speaker claimed, had par
1iament received them
Mr. Bartholdt said that he spoke as a
Neutral, but that he thought Americans
should acquaint themselves with the Facts
before blaming one side or the other for
precipitating the war. At the request OF
several persons in the audience. he rfe-
sented his views of the causes leading up
to the hoStil:ties
With every desire to preserve peace,
Germany. in the last few hours
preceding the declaration of war, DIS
patched note to Sir Edward Grey,
said MIR. Bartho1dt. asking England to
name her conditions. Had this note
reached parliament and been acted
any reasonable demand. declared the
speaker. But Sir Edward Grey did not
want England to name her condl-
tions. he already had entered into
that Great Britain would join with
these nations. Mr. Bartholdt charged
War Declared in Kaiser's Absence.
That the kaiser did not desire war
and made every effort to prevent 1t,
said the Missouri representative. is
further proved by the fact that. at the
solicitation of Russia, he had sought
to mediate the differences between Ser
bia and Austria, and almost at the ex-
pense of losing the friendship OF the
Emperor of Austria had obtained from
that country a promise that 1t would
not take any Serbian territory.
Mr.. Bartholdt also referred to the fact
that when the war broke out the kaiser
was in Norway, declaring that this was
sufficient evidence that the head of the
German nation was not seeking to dis
turb the peace of Europe. and that he
did not expect the relations then ex-
isting between the belligerent nations
TO be broken.
There would have been no war. he
continued, had England said no." for
France and Russia. he charged would
not have thought of attacking Ger
many without Englands aid.
Facts Withheld by Censorship.
In beginning his address Mr.. Bar
tholdt announced that he was going TO
speak from an American standpoint,
but that as between right and wrong
he did not take neutral ground and
that he proposed to give some facts
concerning Germany's militarism.
Americans have not had an opportu-
nifty to learn the real facts underly.
ing the war. he said. because Great
Britain controls our news service
Il don't blame the American news
papers for this. They can't help
themselves
Though Germany is charged with be-
ing a military nation. it spends less
for defense than either France. Eng
land or Russia, he continued. For 400
years Germany was the battle-ground
of every European war For 400
years Germany was what Belgium is
today, only nobody sympathiZed with
her Germany's so-called miiitarism
was developed not for purposes of
conquest but for protection