Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-05-16
WHY GERMAN Y MADE WAR

August Thyseen. one of the wealthiest commercial
men in Germany, published a pamphlet some time ago,
addressed to the German people. 1t was suppressed and
he was heavily fined for writing 1T. Copies of it have
reached this country, however, and its contents are given
below: n
Which the Hohenzollerns wanted to get the support
Of the commercial class for their war plans they put
ideas before us as a business proposition. A large num-
Der of business and commercial men were asked to sup
port the Hohenzollern war policy on the ground that it
would pay them to do so. &..
Let me frankly confess that 1 am one Of these men
who were led to agree to support the Hohenzollern war
plans when this appeal was made to the leading business
men Of Germany in 1%s12-1s13. I was led to do so, how
ever, against my better judgment. .~
In 1912 the Hohenzollerns saw that the war had be-
come a necessity to the preservation of the military sys-
tenn upon which their power depends. In that year the
Hohenzonerns might have directed, if they had desired,
the foreign affairs Of our country SO that peace would
have been insured in Europe for at least SO years.
Prolonged peace would have resulted certainly in the
breakup of our military system, and with the breakup
Of our military system the power of the Hohenzollerns
would come to an end. The emperor and his family, as
! said. clearly understood this, and they therefore in 1912
decided to embark on a great war Of conquest.
To do this they had to get the commercial commu-
nifty to support them in their aims. They did this by
holding out to them hopes Of great personal gain as the
result of the war.
1 was personally promised a free grant of "a, 900
acres in Australia and a loan from the Deutsche bank Of
$75o,ooo at 3 per cent to enable me to develop my BUSH
ness in Australia. Several other firms were promised
special trading facilities in India. which was to be con-
quered by Germany.
A syndicate was formed for the exploitation Of Can
ada This syndicate consisted Of the heads Of IL great
firms; the working capital was fixed at. 800. 900, 900.
half OF which was to be furnished by the German gov
eminent
There were, I have heard, promises made OF a more
land" was to be made the occasion Of bestowing on GER
tain favored and wealthy men some Of the most desir-
ableE residences in England, but Of this I have no actual
proof.
Every trade interest was appealed to. Huge tndenn-
nttiss were. Of course TO be levied on the conquered ma
lions and the fortunate German manufacturers were BY
thtss means practically % be relieved Of taxation Tor year.
aftsf me war. @$5ss#
@sSsEEtt1hsss prOnnises were not vaguely given. They were
a1atas Asfinttelys ~ Bethnaann-Holwss. And were con-
8narA1ssed ~ hs,@snpsror Who on TIRES oceaaionnsae "a
A4ffs4ssss4r ss RfiyaAs gatherings u buat1en men IL sBsr.
slf11ss aMnnieh ~ casssi IN 1917 and I'LL. as@
s#yTsSSaAecpr6iss tss shs premtses 81 the Hehnzo,lsrna, Ne
S1ss ts 800 bssA achisvsd irapscsmber 1915, 2bu,
;AsisS nslssssskssfAs 4 lslS ths ehaacsllsr. Bsthmasn-l1elwss
assbsfSys Alas ssF hsAsrySxs oncs ners wsshs SSsnsas nsu
ssst ~ neasy. dusrantses vsrs asksd from u