New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-17
German Paper Admits
Berlin Fostered War
Quotes White Book to Show
Austria Was Encouraged in
Move Against Serbia

From The Ner Yorker Volksseitung, Sep
TENDER Il
The question as to which power or
group Of powers provoked the world
war. e., gave the direct cause for II
has been discussed over and over
again in the three years OF war. And
this discussion will not rest until the
responsibility for the gigantic crime is
established and the verdict accepted as
lust by the whole world. To-day we
are still far from that, although II can
not be denied that certain progresses
have been attained in this direction
which are calculated 70 facilitate an
ADEQUATE investigation Of the matter OF
fact
Thus, il is to-day generally admitted
that the Austrian ultimatum to Serbia
brought on the worlds war, and that
subsequently il would have required
the desire of peace OF all powers IN or
der to avert the catastrophe. But such
general desire for peace did not even
obtain. Now, if we shift the direct re-
sponsibility on this ultlmatum, then
the question arises as 10 whether Aus
tria acted alone or with the knowledge
and by direction of Germany.
The inquiry, therefore, tapers to the
ascertaining whether the Germans had
cognizance Of the Austrian note 10 Ser
tia before its dispatching or not.
II will be remembered that no. until
July the German government
released through the "Norddeutsche
Allgemeine Zeitung" an official dec
! laration. TO the effect that THE German
government had refrained from in
fuencing the wording of the Austrian
ultimatum TO Serbia and that its con
tents were perfectly unknown 10 the
| German government before its dis
patch"
Let us now set aside the question OF
the criminal frivolousness of the Ger
| man government if it had not en-
/ deavored to learn at least the purport
/ of the Austrian note to Serbia, and we
/ can do so much the more as Berlin was
: not guilty Of this crime. The nitro
Guctory memorial of the German White
/ Book expresses this distinctly:
/ Under these circumstances Austria
! had TO tell herself that it was not com
| patble with her dignity or with the
/ self-preservation of the monarchy "a
/ look any longer with indifference al
/ the doings on the other side OF the
| frontier. The imperial and royal gov
eminent informed us of its intention
and solicited for our opinion"
What kind Of information this was
and of what the contents of the Ger
man reply to Vienna consisted arr
clearly brought to light by the add
tional sentences of the White Book. j
is said there that despite the DANCE
that Austria's proceeding might caus'
Russia 70 interfere" and despite "th'
threatening European war" German!
could neither advise his ally 20 yield
ing nor refuse him our aid in thes'
grave moments"
Accordingly, the German govern
ment was not only we'll acquainted Will
the contents of the note; il had ais
encouraged Austria in her project.
The Austrian ultimatum was deliv
cred in Belgrade in the evening OF Jul
% s o'clock. On July % the hour
lot known the German Chancellor in
formed his embassies in Paris, Londo'
and St Petersburg of the contents an
probable consequences Of the ultl
matum. All other great powers, a
established in the just published book
THE Crime" by the author OF the boo
"JAccuse," did not gain intelligence o
the ultimatum until July "a.
Herr Hartling. the Bavarian Premier
had as early as July % knowledge o
the contents of the Austrian ultImatum
In Berlin alone they had not the slight
est notion of il.
How plausible these dement's of tn
German government sound, and nov
innocent they are in Berlin of every
thing.