Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-04
JUSTICE WHITE MAY
SIT FOR AMERICA
At KA|SER'S TRIAL
Jurists From Five Big Pow
ers Expected to Constitute
Momentous Court.
LLOYD GEORGE SPRINGS
SURPRISE IN COMMONS
Follows Precedent in Revealing Al
lies Intentions Toward
Infamous Huns.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON. July 1.-THE only sur
prise of the report by Premier Lloyd
George on the work of the peace con
ference to the house of commons
yesterday was the news that the
former German emperor would be
tried in London.
The premier has a habit of launch
ing news in speeches. a notable previ-
Gus instance being his address in
which he said that three submarines
had been sunk in one day. That
address came at time when the
submarines were the most menacing
factor in the war situation.
Well-Kept Secret.
The decision to bring the former
emperor to London. with other prom
inent accused persons, has been a
well kept secret. and it is understood
that Mr.. Lloyd George was RESPONSE
BILE for the proposal.
reckoned with, it is reported. Dutch
public opinion has seemed to strong
" support the kaiser'S right of aSy-
lum there, and there are many pre-
dictions that Holland may refuse to
give up the deposed monarch and that
Commission to Arrange Trial.
Great state trials in England, of
which there have been none for many
wears, have been held in Westmin-
ster Hall. but it is not believed that
William HohenZollern will be given
that honor.
The procedure for this trial will
be laid down by a commission which
will be appointed by committee
which the allies will soon set up to
execute the provisions of the peace
treaty.
Justice White May Sit.
Five judges will be chosen by the
British, American. French. Italian
and Japanese governments and it is
expected they will constitute the
court In that event the Earl of Read
ing, lord chief justice, viii SIT Tor
Great Britain. and Edward Douglas
White, Chief Justice Of the Supreme
Court of the United States, Is re-
garded as the logical choice OF the
American government.
Parliamentary gossip holds that the
former emperor certainly should not
be given privileged position in
court. but should be put in the dock
like any other man charged with a
crime.
Trial in Autumn Likely.
Trial is looked for this autumn, If
it occurs, and steps for the kaiser's
extradition are expected to be taken
soon. if not already begun. Dutch
newspapers have discussed Count Ho-
henzollern's extradition ever since he
took refuge in Holland and the gem
eral sentiment appears to be that it
would be a humiliation for Holland
to surrender the former monarch at
the demand of the powers, which de-
mand would be untehable under the
law, since the kaiser's case does not
come under extradition treaties and
the charge of supreme offense
against international morality and
the sanctity of treaties" is not covered
by existing laws.
Might Yield to Fair Trial.
The Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant,
in an article which is reputed to have
been inspired, recently said that the
Dutch government might be prepared
to make the necessary changes in its
constitutional law on being given GER
tain guarantees as to the constitution
of the court and the charter of the
trial The guarantees specified by
the newspaper were that impartial
judges who would not be of accusing
rationalities would preside and that
the former emperor might be given
the right to produce all available evil
dence in his defense.
The Handelsblad of Amsterdam re-
Gently said regarding the former en-
peror and crown prince: Both of
them have been admitted to this
country. as a matter of fact, not as a
matter of right, for no authorization
to- travel or reside in Holland has
been issued to them in accordance
with the law of 1s49 relating to for
eigners, nor are they informed as dan
gerous foreigners under the tempo
rary law of 1898. which requires that
a foreigner to be interned must be
deemed dangerous to public order
safety. health or morality"
Could Put Over Frontier.
The newspaper points out that for
eigners not in possession of an au-
thorization to travel or reside here
may be put over the frontier from
which they came.
Legal opinion here is that Hollands
action in assigning residences to Will
liam Hohenzollern and his son con-
stituted permission for them to re
side in Holland
The prospect of having the kaiser in
England as state prisoner has given
the public great topic of 4siScus.
sion.
Surprise to Americans.
PARIS, July - Premier LIoyC
Georges statement in the house OF
commons yesterday regarding the tria
of the former German emperor cam.
as a surprise to the members of the
American peace delegation and to tn,
conference members generally. L
was freely said in these circles tina
/ nothing had been communicated Il
them regarding any decision by tn,
council of three as to the details o
the place of trial and other matters
disclosed by the British premier
Nothing was known concerning tn,
matter. it was declared, further thar
what was provided for in the term
: of the peace treaty.