Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-06-27
lex CROWN PRINCE
IN lakes HIS ESCAPE:
AND PROCEEDS HOME
Washington Had Previously
Heard That Ex-KaiSer and
Son Would Return to Ger
many After Peace

PARIS, June 26.-Frederick Will
liam Hohenzollern, the former Ger
man crown prince, has escaped from
Holland and made his way into Ger
many.
News of the escape of the ex-
crown prince caused a considerable
stir in peace conference circles.
While it is not felt he is a figure
around which the reactionaries and
monarchists would gather enthusiast
tically, nevertheless his act is re-
garded as an event of considerable
significance in view of other Ger
man recalcitrancy.
Hints have come from Germany
within the last few days that the
military caste there would not be
averse to bringing about a military
situation within the former empire
that would embarrass the allies in
putting the peace treaty into effect,
and it seems not improbable that
the move made by the ex-crown
prince is connected with some such
plan.
1nterned by Dutch
The former crown prince made his
way into Holland shortly after the
| signing Of the armfstice last Novem-
Der ana was 1uI6Tu0Q There ny LILO
Dutch government. taking up his
| residence on the island of Wierin-
| gen, in the Zuyder Zee.
Two days before the armistice was
signed, a decree issued by the Ger
man imperial chancellor, Prince Max
| of Baden, announcing the decision OF
| former German emperor to abdicate,
stated:
"The imperial chancellor will re-
main in office until the questions con-
nected with the abdication of the
kaiser, the renouncing by the crown
prince of the throne of the German
empire and of Prussia, and the set
ting up Of the regency, have been
settled"
This generally was accepted by the
public as an official announcement OF
the crown princes intention to res
Crown Princes Denial
Later, however, the crown prince
| denied any such intention in an IN
terview given to the Associated Press
correspondent at Oosterland, Holland,
December 8, 1918. At that time the
crown prince said:
II have not renowned anything
and have not signed any documents,
| whatever"
"However," he continued. should
the German government decide to
| form republic similar to the United
| States or France, I should be perfect
| ly content to erturn to Germany as
simple citizen ready to do anything
| to assist my country. I should even
be happy to work as laborer In a.
Eat present everything appearE
chaotic in Germany but I hope
things will right themselves"
Notwithstanding this Categorical
statement, the semi-otf1cial WolH Du-
! reau Of Berlin three days later is
I n
| text of the crown princes renuncla-
ton of his rights to the throne. This
| document read:
| ct renounce formally and definite
ly all rights to the throne OF Prusslaa
| and the imperial crown which would
| have fallen to me by the renuncla-
| ton of the emperor-king, or for 9th"
| er reasons.
"Given by my authority and signed
| by my hand. done at Wierlngen' De-
0e''i'0l WILHELM"
Proof of Interview
| The eX-croWn prince mas given
numerous interviews to various cor
respondents since his arrival In OHol-
land and has complained in some m
AS regards the Associated Press In
terview mentioned. however, the cor
respondent who obtained 1t holds an
autographed letter from the ex-
crown prince in which the latter
states that in this interview he was
quoted correctly in every particular
The former German crown prince
was interned by the Dutch govern
ment on the island Of Wieringen, ana
| if he preserves his status as SOL
der. the opinion of international law
| authorities here is that the Netner-
| lands government may be held ac-
| countable by the associated powers
| for his escape.
and neutrality require the govern
ment of any nation that affords asy-
| II to a fugitive soldier to intern
him for the period of the war, and
| that in this instance that period tech
nically had not elapsed. Officials
said one effect of this escape un-
| doubtedly would be to cause the au-
| thorities of Holland to renew pre-
cautions to prevent the escape Of the
| former emperor.
Because of the bitterness manifest
ed by the extreme Socialist element
against the formar royal family. Of
icials here were somewhat puzzled
bv the action of the former crown
prince. They assumed, however that
he either must have had some en-
coura cement from his friends In Ger
many to believe that whatever gov-
eminent survived the present crisis,
would refuse to surrender him to the
associated powers for trial under the
terms of the peace treaty should his
name be on the prescribed list, or
that a coup de'etat was in contem-
p1ation, involving the conservative
elements and officers of the army
who have strongly opposed signing
Of the peace treaty.