Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1918-05-23
SAYS Mind
HAS A CROOKED TURN
Former German Chancellor Is
Flayed for Making Toul-Ver-
dun Demand on France.

London, (by mail).-Concerning ex-Chan-
cellor Hollweg's demand on France for
foul and Nerdun as guarantees of neu-
trality, made at the beginning Of the
war. the London Times says:
Herr Won Bethmann Hollweg has been
giving his explanations OF the passage In
his telegram of July 81. 1914. which the
French foreign minister has lately re-
vealed to an unedified world. 1t was time.
Not only the tame Vorwaerts but the
tanner Nossische Zeltung have held up
their hands at the naked immortality of the
chancellor's secret instructions to the
German ambassador IN Paris. Majority
socialists in the reichstag are ashamed of
the policy the disclose, and the under sec
rotary for foreign affairs, Herr Won dem
Bussche, was reduced to plead in eNtenu-
alton that, after all, the passage was new
er communicated to the French. and that
therefore it could not nave influenced
events. anG remained a sort of diplomatic
'dud.'
wv are bound in fairness to say that
we think the last chancellor but one
makes a good defense upon his own ,prin-
clples. Herr Won Eeth1nann Hollweg is
the fallen chancellor of occasionlly frank
avowals. He is the statesman who de-
Ecribed neutrality as just a word and
the treaty by which Germany and En-
gland guaranteed the neutrality of Bel
gium as 'jast a scrap of paper He is
the mar who proclaimed that it was wrong
and illegal for Germany to hack her way
through that defenseless little land, but
VINO Justified the step because necessity
knows no law. 1t is simply stupid TO
express surprise at any action in which
q man imbued with this doctrine may be
detected, provided that he may have
thought that it would further his ends.
Now, when Herr Won Bethnann Holl-
veg instructed Baron Won Schon to de-
mand the neutrality of France in the
quarrel which Germany had determined
TO fasten upon Russia, he thought, as ne
now tells US, that perhaps France might
have acceded to the demand, and havc
then made ready under cover of this
sham neutrality to stab Germany in the
PACK when Germany was deeply engaged
IN the cast. That doubtless is the policy
which he would have followed, had he
been directing the affairs of Franc and
not those Of Germany. He judged France
by himself. He was as sorely mistaken
as when he judged England by the same
standard. He was afraid that France
would promise neutrality and then treat
the promise as just a word He was
afraid that she might begin hacking her
way suddenly into Germany OF the plea
that the step was necessary to her safety
and that necessity knows no law.
'Gentlemen,' said the great Frederick,
on the eve of his raid upon S:lesia, I give
you q problem to solve. When a man is
at an advantage, ought he to Use it or
not?' Herr Won Bcthmann Hollweg, bred
in the Fredericton tradiction and consci-
Gus OF its corroding influence upon his own
conception of truthfulness and honor,
may naturally have suspected that the
French might do as he would have done.
If he held this view, it was merely COM
mon prudence upon his part to take his
precautions That, he explains, is why he
instructed the ambassador to require the
delivery Of Toul and Verdun as material
guarantees. Germany, Baron Won Schon
was to say. would hand them back when
she had finished with Frances ally, Rus
STA.
The e~x-chancellor's defense is in strict
accordance with his doctrine. The pain
full stupe faction which Germans who &C
cept his principles profess to feel at NJ.
Pichon's disclosure is Illogical and out
of place. 1t is not even incredible that
Herr Won Bethinann Ho!lweg may be sin
ccre when he goes on to affirm that he
had on intention whatever of attacking
to the infa1ny Of his proposals-as he
was insensibla to the infalny of his sug-
gestion to us. He is maladroit enough to
remind the world that he offered not to
attack France if we would guarantee the
unconditional neutrality of that country in
the war between Germany and Russia.
Apparently Herr Won Bethnlann Hollweg
does not even yet see that acceptance of
his offer would nave been degrading and
huniliating both to our French friends
and to ourselves. There Is, however, an
other explanation Of his conduct, which
seems much more probable than the
apology we have made out for him on the
fundamental principles Of %realpolitik. 1t
Is, in brief, that Germany was absolutely
determined to force France into war at
once, whatever course she might take,
and that the demand for Toul and Yer
dun was deliberately framed to make hes
itation upon her part impossible. The
scheme was superfluous. France was
pledged to Russia, and she does not treat
her pledges is just Words"