The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-11-15

evidence that German ydid not wan
\ Aemrica to offer peace.
i When asked if Germany had mad,
the peace overtures to eliminate tn,
possibility Of a noffer from Presi
dent Wilson, DIR. Zimmerman evadet
an answer, but when pressed, he de
clared that it was tactical maneu
yer. He had not told the German
Press about President Wilson's offer
as he had no call to take President
Wilson's part with the press.
Edonard David, the Socialist Minis.
ter Of the Interior, asked whether th1
peace offer of President Wilson OF
that of Germany was to be preferred
The former Foreign Secretary replied
that he held to the standpoint that
the offer would come better from
President Wilson because a German
overture would look like a weakness
on the part of Germany and that Of
President Wilson could be refused
more easily. Zimmerman complain.
ed that President Wilson was preju-
diced against Germany.
The former Foreign Secretary
again evaded direct answer when he
was asked if he had said when Ameri-
ca entered the war: "Thank God, we
are rid of these people as peace medi-
ators."
He said that Germany knew that
America would break off diplomatic
relations and enter the war, but that
the German government had jumped
in on the unrestricted submarine war;
fare as last chance to gain the vic
tory.
Questions regarding Belgian de-
portations brought out warm support
from DR.. Won Bethmann-Hollw for
Gen. Won Kissing, who, he said, had
opposed the deportations. The for
mer Chancellor told how Ambassador
Gerard had urged him to have the de-
poltations stopped, but they had con.
tinued. he said, despite his objections
He was not in a position to stop them
although he thought them politically
stupid, but the policy had been in
troduced by the military authorities
a an urgent political necessity.
Gov. Gen. Won Kissing, said Beth.
ollweg, had taken up the mat
ter personally with Hindenburg and
Lndendortf and had obtained certain
in the mode of applying
the deportation policy, but in general
he was unable to force a change in
the policy as the military authorities
declared that they mad need or labor.
Lack. of Team Work.
To the criticism to the effect that
the Foreign Office and the general
staff had worked well together during
he war, Bethmann-Hollweg declared
hat this dualism was always in eff
feet during the Austro-Prussian war
IF 1866 and the Franco Prussian war
Of 1870 and that both sides of the
governmental machinery had on these
occasions believed that their way to
save the Fatherland.
Taking up again the question of |
Belgian deportation, he replied afr
natively to question asking wheth-
er they had not died in large numbers,
from cold and hunger and whether
hey had not been used for work foI |
which they had not qualified. The |
former chancellor gave information |
about the censorship which he applied !
% the addresses of the emperor to
bodies of troops on the eastern and |
western fronts. He showed his re-
sentiment at the conclusion of the |
hearing at questions regarding |
breaches Of international law by Ger
many, declaring: "Why always tall !
If our breaches of international law |
when we were ct war with a peace.
people,"
breaking people?"
His fist fell with a resounding bang |
Upon the table as he answered the |
questions.
The hearing will be resumed tomor-
row when Admiral Koch, formerly
ice chief of the naval general staff
will take the stand.
-.