The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-14
Former German Foreign
Secretary Defends Kaiser
and All His Leaders.
BLAMES RUSSIA FIRST
He Asserts Fatherland Saved
Europe-Admits Invasion of
Belgium Was Wrong.
BY KARL n. Won wIEGAyD.
StdT Correspondent Of THE Sun.
ConnrtdAf iQla. all sinhfa eese.ned

CoprrtGhf, lsls; all rights rcseyped.
BERLIN, April IL (delayed) Ger
many, the Kaiser, the Chancellor and
all the responsible leaders did not
wish war" Germany endeavored to
avert war as long as was compatible
with her prestige and possession Of
power, with her alliance obligations
and with self preservation" I'm vain
we're our efforts to dispense the threat
ening clouds; their lightning was
aimed at the German oak" Peace
was the special aim and policy of EN-
peror wilhelm, who wanted to be the
peace Kaiser" Germany could not
do other than IL did"
These are excerpts from the book Of
Gottlieb Won Jagow, which is In the
hands of the printers, the keynote to
the contribution TO the history of the
war by the former Foreign Secretary,
who retired in 1915 because he was
opposed TO the renewal Of U-boat war
fare.
Those who look for revelations" and
confessions from the man who was For
eign Secretary OF Germany when the
war broke out will be disappointed. Won
Jagow has written discrcetly and can
be regarded as sensational only in the
many's course and her policy and seeks
TO place the will to war or the inten-
ton and desire Of making war upon her
opponents.
Adds Little That IL New.
He adds little that really Is new to
The subject his hook is largely a pre-
sentation Of well known facts restated
from his viewpoint benind the scenes,
not a personal apology. but a contribu-
ton clearing UP things as they were on
the part OF one who through his official
position stood nearer and could look
deeper into the tortuously intertwined
threads OF weltpolitik than many others,
who without his knowledge formed their
verdict"
In his preface he declares his purpose
TO answer and counter the various false
Verdicts and charges against our
policies and the manifold creation of
legends AS to the causes of the war
he goes back to the time of Napoleon
and asserts that ''for a proper judg-
ment of the causes of the war the last
and immediate event that led to an
appeal to arms was less decisive than
the whole situation OF the political
constellation before the outbreak Of the
war, the long list Of political tendencies
and actions in all the participating
Scbiti ICE tHiOuBH WHICH LOT many years
the knot Of the tragedy was drawn"
The book does not go beyond the
outbreak of the war. Won Jagow's
presentation shows political constella-
tons manoeuvring for years against his
country. "Germany's geographical po-
sition in Central Europe was the pole
a which the points of the bayonets
Of all Europe were magnetically di-
rected'
Ha laws 4ba causaa -, -b. ,,a- o..
On Russia, second on France, and last
but not least on England. and takes
issue with Bismarck's policy. contending
that Russia was always half. IL not
more. an Asiatic State. Its law Is
ASiatic despotism its very being is con-
fusion and disorder" Its tendency to
expansion, coupled with its rapid an
ger for Europe. and collision with the
western netghbor States had to follow
eventually. like an unavoidable law Of
nature.
Although in the world war against
the western Powers and America she has
been put underneath. Germany in her
defence against Russia, which was
forced upon her, has saved Europe" he
declares
Franco-Ruasian Alliance.
Won JdBON lTdStS tH6 ueNtFOpIleul
the Franco-Russian alliance and empha-
sizes the French loans with stipulations
for the development of Russias military
machine and strategic railways, the sole
purpose OF which, he declares, was to
prepare for a French war against Ger
many and carry out the revanche idea
He cites Gen. Michel. Governor-Gen-
eral OF Paris, who IN advocating the
budget in January, 1914, before COM
- Aa Ia
rnanded an extraordinary supply OF four
for Paris on the ground that time
presses this will be an unusual year.
We do not know whether we will have
mobilization in March or April"
He declares that the French Govern
rnent, through its Amba ssador at Bern,
already in May. 1914. had entered into
negotiations with the Swiss to provide
II with necessary grain, to be imported
into Switzerland in the event of war. on
a guarantee by the Swiss Government
that II would not leave the country. He
asserts that in these negotiations Ma or
Pageot, the French Military Attache,
declared that France was peace loving,
but our brothers in Alsace are calling.
Won Jagow calculated that the partici-
patton OF England and Russia in the war
would cut of imports into Germany, and
further that the Suez Canal and the
general commerce: therefore, Switzer-
land had to rely upon the French rail-
ways for imports. He admits that there
we're several commendable efforts by
England TO reach an understanding and
agreement with Germany. but Berlin
always hesitated." England then turned
TO France and Russia.
He considers the provocatory manner
OF the agitation In Germany for a large
fleet as one OF the contributory causes OF
the war on the side of Germany and
compares her secret pacts and her diplo-
macy with those of England to the detri-
ment OF the latter, alluding. among other
incidents. to the mysterious visit of Sir
w. Tyrrell in the spring of 1914 to
Washington where he could confer with
President Wilson and call for a clear
ing up"
Won Jagow defends Germany's sup
port OF Austria In the Serbian crisis. but
denies previous knowledge of the ulti-
matum. which. when he received IL, late
on the night before its delivery to Bel
grade, was criticised by him and by Won
-Hollweg as too sharp" but