New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-01
GERMANY DECLINED
TO REDUCE FLEET
Grey's Proposals Rejected and
Absolute Neutrality De-
manded Instead.

Zeitung," which Is characterized %
misleading and intended to mislead'
In part the British statement is as
follows:
Early in 1912 the German Chance!-
lor sketched to Lord Haldane (then
British Lord High Chancellor) the fol-
lowing formula as one which would
meet the views of the imperial govern
ment:
"First-The high contracting parties
assure each other mutually Of their de-
sire for peace and friendship.
Second They will not, either OF
them, make or prepare TO make any un-
nrovoked attack upon the other or Join
in any combination or design against
the other for the purposes of aggres-
sion: or become a party to any plan
OF naval or military enterprise, alone
or in combination with any other
power. directed to such an end, and
declare themselves not to be bound by
any such engagement.
Neutrality Required.
Third If either becomes entangled
in war with one or more powers in
which it cannot be said TO be the ag-
gressor, the other party will at least
observe benevolent neutrality, and Will
use it's utmost endeavor for the locali-
cation of the conflict. If either IS
forced to 20 to war by obvious provo
cation by third party they bind
themselves to enter into an exchange
Of views concerning such a conflict.
Int Of
which arises out of the preceding arti-
Gle has no application in so far as it
may not be reconcilable with existing
agreements.
"Fifth-The making Of new agree
ments which render It impossible for
either party to observe neutrality
toward the other, beyond what is pro-
vided by the preceding limitation, is
excluded.
"Sixth-The high contracting par
tics declare they will do all in their
mower to prevent differences and mis-
understandings between them and
other powers. -t
Called Grossly Unfair"
"These conditions, although in APP
pearance fair, would have been grossly
unfair. Owing to the general position
Of the European powers and their
treaty. engagements, the results OF Ar
ticles A and 8 would have been that
while Germany, in case OF European
conflict, would have renamed Tree 10
support her friends, this country would
have been forbidden TO raise nnger
in defence of hers.
Germany could arrange that the
formal incel Ion of hostilities should
rest with Austria. II Austria and Rus
sia were at war Germany would sup
mort Austria. In other words, the
pledge of neutrality offered by Ger
many would have been absolutely
valueless. because she could always
Mead the necessity of existing obliga-
tions under the Triple Alliance.
"No such departure, however seri-
ous the provocation, would have been
possible for this country, which was
bound by no alliances, with the excep'
ton Of Japan and Portugal, while the
making of fresh alliances was prohib-
tied by Article B.
at WAS impossible for US TO enter
into contract so obviously inequlta-
BILE. and the formula accordingly was
rejected by Sir Edward Grey (the Brit
ish Foreign Minister).
Crews Counter-Proposal.
Count Paul Wolff Metternich (then
German Ambassador to Great Britainl
pressed for contemporaries, which
he stated would be without prejudice
and not binding unless we were salts,
fed our wishes were met on the naval
question. Sir Edward Grey on March
Ia, 1912, gave Count Wolf-Metternich
the following draft formula; .,
England will make no unprovoked
attack upon Germany and pursue no
aggressive policy toward her. Aggres-
sion upon Germany is not the subject
and forms no part OF any treaty, I'M
derstanding or combination to which
England is now a party, nor will she
become a party to anything that has
such an object
Count Wolff Metternich thought this
Inadequate and suggested two alterna-
tive additional clauses:
England will therefore observe at
least benevolent neutrality should war
be forced upon Germany or England
will therefore, as matter OF course,
remain neutral IL war is forced upon
Germany.
"Sir Edward Grey considered that the
British proposals were sufficient.
Germany's Real Object.
THE real object of the German pro-
posal was TO obtain the neutrality Of
England in all eventualities, since
should war break out, Germany would
certainly contend that 1t had been
forced upon her.
"An admirable example of this is
the present war, which. Germany con-
tends, was forced upon her. Even the
third member Of the Triple Alliance did
aot share this view. but regarded it as
an aggressive war.
"Sir Edward Grey eventually pro
posed the following:
1.-THE two powers, being mutually
DESTROYS Of securing peace and friend
ship, England declares that she will
neither make nor join in any unpro-
voked attack on Germany. Aggression
upon Germany forms no part of any
treaty, understanding or combination
to which England now is a party, nor
will she become party 10 any with
such an object
"The negotiations then came to an
end and with them the hope OF a
mutual reduction in the expenditure
for ornaments by the two countries"