El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-06-17

peaIed TO. Huge iudemnities were,
Of course. 10 be levied on the con-
Quered nations, and the fortunate
German manufacturers were. by this
means. practically TO be relieved OF
taxation for years after the war.
Promises Made Definitely.
These promises were not vaguely
given. They were made definitely
by Bethmann-HoliWeg on behalf OF
the emperor to gatherings OF business
men. and in many cases 10 individ-
uals-
Not only were these promises made
by the chancellor; they were con-
firmed by the emperor, who on three
occasions addressed large private
gatherings OF business men in Ber-
lin. Munich and Cassel in 1912 and
1913. ] was at one OF these gather
lngs- The emperor's speech was one
Of the most tloWery Orations I have
listened 10. and so profuse were the
promises he made that were even half
Of what he promised TO be full
filled. most Of the commercial men
in Germany would become rich be-
YONG the dreams Of avarice.
The emperor was particularly en-
thusiastic over the coming German
conquest Of India india he said
lis occupied by the British il is in
a way governed by the British, but 81
is by no means completely governed
By them We shall not merely oc-
cupy India We shall conquer 10 and
the vast revenues that the British
allow 90 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 German flag will fly over every
other flag"
Take II or Leave It.
Finally the emperor concluded
o. rssH HaHsr- "a =
cannot be redeemed. and they shall
be redeemed if you are now prepared
20 make the sacrifices which are
necessary to secure the position that
our country must and shall occupy
i'm the world He who refuses 20 help
is a traitor to the fatherland; ne who
helps willingly and generously viii
have his rich reward
All sounded, 7 admit. tempting and
allurinE. and though there were some
who viewed rather obviously the
prospect Of Germany being able TO
conquer the world in a year. the ma
jority OF business and commercial
men agreed TO support the Hohen-
zollern war plans Most Of them have
since wished they had never paid any
attention 20 them
victory Promised in 1913.
According TO the promises Of the
Hohenzollern, victory was to have
been achieved in December, 1915
and the promises made to myself
and other commercial men in Ger
many when oui' money for the kali
ser's war chest was wanted were 90
have been redeemed.
But this is what happened I'm real
ity- In December OF 1916 the chan
celIor. Bethmann-HolWeg began TO
have interviews once more with bus
mess men. The purpose Of these IN
terviews again was 10 get more
money from them GUARANTEES were
asked from IS business men in Ger
many. including myself. that they
would undertake 70 subscribe 300.
100000 pounds declined 20 give
this guaranty; so did others was
then favored with a private inter
view with Bethmann-Houweg' prl-
vate secretary. who told me that Dr.
I declined TO give the money 7 would
lose a contract had with the war Of
flee. But not only that was
threatened with the practical ruin or
guaranty
7 described this demand as black
mail Of the worst sort and refuse
to guarantee a mark 10 the war loan
Two months later ] lost my con-
tract. and the greater part Of my
business has been taken over at
figure that means coutisc1-ion. More
over. am not 20 get paid until after
the war, but am to receive { per cent
on the purchase price. Every man
who declined TO promise a subscrlp- Z
tion TO the amount he was asked has
been treated in the same manner.
A circular was sent out last March
to a large number Of business men
by the foreign trade department
which contained the following sug-
gestion.
Fear AutI-Germau Sentiment.
1T VIII be wise for Employers who