Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-31

the time were led TO believe that they
would probabl be realized.
was personally promised a free
grant of 10000 acres in Australia and
loan from the Deutsch Bank of
l. 600 900 900 marks at 8 per cent to
enable me TO develop my business in
Australia. Several other firms were
promised special trading facilities in
India. which was 10 be conquered by
Germany. ne 1t noted. by the end OF
1915. syndicate was formed for the
exploitation OF Canada. This syndicate
consisted OF the heads OF twelve great
firms; the working capital was fixed
at 100000 900, half of which was to
be found by the German government
There were, j have heard. promises
made of more personal character.
For example. the conquest of England"
was 10 be made the occasion of be-
slowing upon certain favored and
wealthy men some OF the most desir-
able residences in England. but OF
this have no actual proof.
Every trade and interest was ap-
reaie6 10. Huge indemnities were. Of
course. TO be levied on the conquered
nations. and the fortunate German
manufacturers were. by this means
practically TO be relieved Of taxation
for years after the war.
These promises were not vaguely
given They were made definitely by
Bethmann-Hollweg on behalf of the
Emperor 10 gatherings of business
men, and in many cases to individuals.
have mentioned the promise of
grant OF 10000 acres in Australia that
was made to me. Promises OF n SINH
lar Kind were made TO at least eighty
other persons at special interviews
with the Chancellor. and all particu-
lars OF these promises were entered in
4 book at the trades department.
10
made by the Chancellor; they were con-
trmed by the Emperor. who on three
occasions addressed large private
gatherings of business men in Berlin.
Munich and Cassei in 1912 and 1913
| was at one of these GATHERINGS The
f-Hpercrs speech was one of the most
howery orat!ons I have listened to,
and so profusc were the promises he
made that were even half of what he
promised to be fulfilled. most Of the
commercial men in Germany would be-
come rich beyond the dreams Of
ava-ice
The Emperor was particularIv en-
thusiastic over the coming German COZ
quest of India. India" he said "is
occupied by the British. 1t is, in a
way. governed BY the British, but II
IS by no means completely governed
oy them. We shall not merely occupy
India. We shall conquer II, and the
vast revenues that the British allow
to be taken by Indian princes will.
after our conquest. flow in a golden
stream into the Fatherland. In all
the richest lands of the earth the Ger
man flag will fly over every other
flag"
Finally the Emperor concludes:
Il am making you no promises that
cannot be redeemed. and they shall
be redeemed if you are now prepared
10 MAKE the sacrifices which are neces-
sary To secure the position that our
country must. and shall occupy in the
world He who refuses TO help is A
traitor TO the Fatherland; he who helps
willingly and generously will have his
rich reward"
All sounded, I admit. tempting and
aliurinG. and. though there were some
VINO viewed rather obviously the pros
pect or Germany being able to conquer
me world In year. the majority OF
business and commercial men agreed
10 support the Hohenzollern war plans.
MOST or them have since wished thew
mao never paid any attention to them.
according to the promises of the
Hohcnzoliern, victory was TO have been
achieved In December, 1915, and tho
promises made to myself and other
coi''iherclal men in Germany, when our
money for the Kaiser's war Ghost w,s
"ahteu, were to have been redeemed
Ent TINS is what happened in reality
IN december of 1916 the ChanceIIor
tnhiann-Hollwcg, began to have in.
.urVie"s once more with business men
nc purpose OF these interviews again