The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-13
Free From War Censor, Acker-
man Tells ''Inside Dope"
SOCIALISTS THREATEN KAISER
Peace and War Parties in Open
Conflict There.
Those Who Profit From War
Want to Fight g. S.
BY CARL w. ACKERMAN.
With Ambassador Gerard's Party

Berne. Switzerland, Feb 13-Ber-
lin was astonished, officials and the
public alike, when President Wilson
broke relations with Germany That
establishment came because officials
had recently been assured by German
Americans in the United States that
fear of a German-American uprising.
The same belief was held by the Ger
man public.
When the American embassy train
left Berlin, the imperial chancellor,
Won -Hollweg, was admit
tedly doWncast over the situation and
believed America wanted war with
Germany. 1t was noticeable also when
Foreign Secretary Zimmerman re-
ceived the American correspondents
shortly before their departure he was
plainly nervous.
He likewise insisted Wilson wants
war; and denied that Germany made
any irrevocable promises in the Sussex
note.
Dates Back to November.
The submarine policy which forced
the break between the United States
and Germany dates back to November
Writing now from neutral Swiss soil
the developments which led Germany
to her decision of relentless sea war
Determination to use the submarine
in unlimited warfare dates back to
November. 1t was then that Ger
many's internal affairs were at the
greatest crisis of the war. The Social
lists warned the kaiser that unless he
moved immediately for peace, DR.
Philip Scheidemann SOCIALIST leader
III the Reichstag) and other Socialist
leaders, would hold militant move
Inent to bring about peace. This
move came at a time when the Ger
man people were destitute and de-
| spondent.
simultaneously the powerful con-
sentative land owners, controlling the
food supply and the equally powerful
group of industrial leaders controlling
the munitions manufactures, told the
government the only way to end the
war was by unlimited submarine war
fare. These interests have always
been anti-American. They succeeded
in convincing Quartermaster Genera
Won Ludendorff.
No Pro- United States at Conference
Meanwhile, the national liberals
who would welcome war with Amer.
| lea, won over Foreign Secretary Zin-
norman to the submarine policy.
Finally, the kaiser's birthday con.
January 27, did not include in its con
| ferees such officials as Minister of The
Interior Won Helfferich, Minister o
| Colonies Solf and the imperial treas
urer, Count Won Roedern, known t.
! be opposed to melting American inter.
Vention.
| The speech made by Imperial Chan
cellor Won Bethmann-Hollweg in the
reichstag early in December-wher'
! he announced peace overtures-
over the Socialists to the support o.
any course the chancellor might ad
vocate.
! In the same way, the kaiser's sub
marine blockade won over the foCt
producers and the group of industrial
! leaders to a continuance of hostilities
The governments peace propose
united the German people. They be
! lieve firmly they must fight on il
their own defense. Everybody in Ger
many is working. night and day.
| Control of Bulgaria Complete.
The answer which the entente pow
ers returned to the peace proposal a.
well as to President Wilson's sugges
tons, so frightened Turkey that the
Ottoman empire will continue in the
| Continued on Page Two1