The sun., 1919-11-01
HOLLWEG DENIES
.HE WANTED U-BOATS
Opposed Submarine War, but
War Party 0verruled
Him.
PRESIDENTS PEACE PLANS
Wilson "Dilatory and Tied to
Entente" Won Bernstorff
\ Reported.
BY tie Associated Prsss.

BERLIN, Oct 31.-von Bethmann-Holi-
veg, German Chancellor during the
Greater par tof the war. spent nearly
two hours in the witness chair to-day
before the National Assembly sub-com-
mittee which is investigating what had
been the possibilities for bringing about
peace during the war
Tho former Chancellor said he sharply
condemned the submarine warfare. but
admitted tho influence of Admiral Won
= Ttrpitz. Gen. Ludendorf and Field Mar
shall Won Hindenburg was so strong that
the German people were absolutely con-
WINGED of its justification and followed
ftiieir Generals blindly.
Fs His voice almost broke with emotion
as DR.. Won Bethmann- Hollweg related
his responsibility to the people at home
and the soldiers In the trenches When
] he tried to oppose the submarine war,
he said, Gen. Ludendorff telegraphed
the Foreign Office after an inspection
Of the west front. and Won Hindenburg
wired, that Germany would lose the
campaign and that she must have the
submarine war.
q 1t was considered finally, according to
the former Chancellor, that even
. America. should she enter the war,
could be handled. and they army au-
fhorities threw down the gauntlet to
political figures who opposed the sub
j marine campaign.
Warnings not TO, underestimate
America, which the former Chancellor
said he issued failed of their purpose.
because, he declared. intense hatred of
America ruled solidly in all political
circles owing to the delivery of ammu-
milton to the Entente by the United
States.
The committee requested answers
: from DR.. Won Bethmann-Hollweg, who
was Chancellor when the war began
and held Office until July IA. 1917, to
= the following three questions:
First-why did the Central Powers
make their peace offer on December
IL, 1915, when action by President Will
son for peace had been suggested by
Germany and certain prospect of such
action was held out, at the latest, for
the end Of December7 q
Second--why were concrete peace
conditions not communicated to Presi-
dent Wilson,?
Third-why, instead of pursuing the
idea of action toward peace by Presis.
dent Wilson, did Germany assent to
ruthless submarine warfare IL she knew
It would lead to war with the Unitsd
States? " y
DIR. Won Bethmann-H ollweg acknoYl-
edged that the facts established in the
course of the proceedings were correct
+
to. enter conference which President
Wilson was willing to join. ~
Replying to the first of the three
questions, the former Chancellor said:
''If President Wilson was upset be-
cause the Central Powers did not wait
for his peace steps. he did not allow this
to influence his action."
DR.. Won Bethmann- Holiweg would not
arsert that President Wilson was not
- ~ t,, hAt 0f
leace action. but said there was a long
cries Of facts throwing doubt on
neither and when the President could
AIRY out his resolve, which led the Ger
ran Government to doubt whether his
Intervention could come soon enough.
According to Count Won Bernstorn's
hports. the former Chancellor declared.
he President was accustomed to show
ssitancy and dilatoriness. and ap-
AIRED handicapped by his own and his
t,ntry's relationship to the Entente.
We could not see into the Presidents
til," said Won Bethmann-Hollweg.
owever, he had no friendly feeling
Germany, as was recently declared
Premier Clemenceau in the Senate.
s.eover, the commercial relations OF
gland and the United States for the
Sply of ornaments were bound Sc
rely to restrict the Presidents peace
Lion, and ii would have been venture
ne to take his peace action as a GER
n factor and otherwise remain mac
ee. For military reasons Germany
Tild not wait indefinitely.
Tin order not TO give the impression
weakness the German peace offer had
( come at a time when our military
ccesses were at the highest. More
: er. 1t was necessary to show the Ger
an people that the Government desired
lace and was only waging a defensive
war. 1t was calculated further that the
peace offer would increase the Entente
peoples will for peace and they would
influence their Governments in favor of
negotiations.
Unfortunately. the Entente replied to
the German offer with a fiat refusal and
the war had to be continued"