The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-06-26
Washington Knew of Plan.

Washington, June 26.--(A.
P.)--Con6dential reports that
the former German crown prince
and also probably the former
emperor would attempt to re-
enter Germany after the signing
of the peace treaty were re-
ceived recently by government
officials here. This became
known today after an Asso-
ciated Press dispatch telling Of
the escape of the German
crown prince had been re-
ceived.
Military Caste In Plot.
Hints have come from Germany
within the last few days that the
military caste there would not be
averse to bringing about 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-cr0wn
prince is connected with some such
plan.
The former crown prince made his
way into Holland shortly after the
signing of the armistice last Novem-
Der and was interned there by the
Dutch government, taking up his res
idence on the island of Wieringen.
in the Zuyder Zee.
Denied Intention to Abdicate.
Two days before the armistice was
signed, a decree issued by the Ger
man imperial chancellor Prince Max
OF Baden, announcing a decision OF
the former German emperor to abdi-
cate, stated;
THE imperial chancellor win re-
main in office until the questions
connected 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 re-
nounce his rights to the succession.
Later, however, the crown prince de-
MED any such intention in an inter-
view given to the Associated Press
correspondent at Oosterland, Holland,
Dec. 3. 1918,
Ex- Crown Prince Quoted.
At that time the crown prince said:
Il have not renounced anything and
| have not signed any documents
whatever"
However" he continued, Should
the German government decide to
form a republic similar to the United
States or France, | should be per-
fectly content to return to Germany
as simple citizen, ready to do any
thing to assist my country. l should
even be happy to work as a laborer
in a factory.
"At present everything appears
chaotic in Germany, but hope things
will right themselves"
Notwithstanding this categorical
statement the semiofficial Wolff bti-
reau of Berlin three days later issued
what was said to be the exact text
of the crown princes renunciation Of
his rights to the throne, This docu-
ment read:
II renounce formally and definitely
all rights to the crown of Prussia
and the imperial crown which would
have fallen to me by the renuncia-
tion of the emperor king, or for other
reasons.
"Given by my authority and signed
by my hand; done at Wieringen, Dec.
l, 1918, WILHELM.'
Once Correctly Stated.
The eX-crown prince has given nu-
merous interviews to various corre-
spondents since his arrival in Hol-
land and has complained in some in
stances of having been misquoted.
AS regards the Associated Press in
terview mentioned, however, the cor
respondent who obtained it holds an
autographed letter from the ex-
crown prince in which the latter
states that in this interview he WIS
quoted correctly in every particulars
Holland Accountable?
The former German crown
prince was interned by the Dutch
government on the island of
Wieringen and if he preserves his
status as a soldier, the opinion
Of international law authorities is
that the Netherlands government
may be held accountable by the
associated powers for his escape.
1t was explained that the rules of
war and neutrality require the gov
ernment of any nation that affords
asylum to a fugitive soldier to intern
him for the period of the war. and
that in this instance that period