Arizona republican., 1919-04-06
SAYS WILHELM D|D NUT WANT
 WAR IN EUROPE
Former Minister Defends Ex-Kaiser-Says His Only Wish Was Peace Always -Blames Allies
Republican A. p. Leased Wirel


 BERLIN, April 5.-A spirited de- fense of the former German emperor against charges that he had any re- sponsibility for the starting of the world war is made by Dr. Karl Helf ferich in his book entitled "pre-war history which will be issued in a fortnight and which will be followed in six months by a sequel on the war itself.
 The former minister of finance sketches a vivid picture of the em- peror's protests of innocense and sad ness at the outbreak of hostilities in a talk August 2, 1914, at the Royal castle at Coblenz. The German arms had been victorious and fortunate outcome of the war seemed certain when pr. Helfferich saw the kaiser for an hour in the castle park.
 "The kaiser spoke about the tre- mendous occurrences of the last weeks in the most inconsiderate way and made upon me the impression of a man who, notwithstanding that fortune was smiling upon his affairs, was shaken to the depths and heavily weighed down with the responsibility of his decisions" says Dr. Helfferich. He described to me in his own lively way the event swhich led to the war. He called on God as his witness that he had been inspired during his en- tire rule by no higher and holier wish than to maintain peace for his people and better it's lot through peaceful work and fortunate conditions of liv- ing.
 He recalled his last meeting with his cousins, the czar and the king of England, at the castle in Berlin on the occasion of the marriage of his daughter in the year 1913, and spoke of the composure he had felt regard ing the peaceable intentions of Russia and England. He was unable to get used to the idea that all the assur- ances of friendship and peace had been lies and deception, yet he had convinced himself from the course of events that the guests then under his roof already bore a plot against Ger many in their hearts.
 Prom the moment when the seri- ousness of the situation had come to his consciousness. he had implored and begged the king of England and the czar to save the world from the misfortune of war; He had to limit the possibility of putting pressure upon Emperor Francis Joseph. The kaiser had implored the czar up to the last moment to stop Russian mob ilization, which would compel us tc strike.
 After Russian mobilization and against the advice of his own military aides, he had given Russia one last chance, but everything went fol naught. Thus he took his pen in hand before he signed the mobilization order. The responsibility for his owr people finally left him no other choice Our fate was now in Gods hands,"
 Dr. Helfferich further quotes the emperor regarding the future of Ger many in case it should be victorious The most important thing for him was that out of the war sound good sense and a peaceful cooperation of tho peoples of the European continent should arise. This hitherto had beer impossible because of Franco-Germa1 contrasts, and peace must be con eluded in such a way that this goa would be obtainable.
 ''The French, he believed a knightl! nation with a high conception of hon or for which he had always had re spect and whose reconciliation witt Germany he had always desired. H. could understand that the French na tion found it rather difficult afte the decision of 1870 to submit withou another appeal to the fortune of arms He had hoped that after this war, th' French would have the feeling tha honor had been satisfied and at tn conclusion of peace a basis could b. created for the honorable cooperation Of the two great European peoples 0 culture in politics and economic life.
 That is the man." concludes DI Helfferich, whom our enemies-and what is worse. people of our owl blood-would like to brand with tn stigma of being the cause of the wal B bloody conqueror and oppressor. Rm thoroughly convinced that VII helm II knew no higher goal than t keep peace for the German people an the world"