Arizona republican., 1919-07-06
The Trial of the Ex-Kaiser.

Our British friends appear to have started the fire put the and got out the skinnins knife Tn anticipation of the rabbit which has not yet been caught but is large in the warren at Amorengen' The court has arranged for the trial of one Will liam Hohenzollern. al, who are charged with cer- tain crimes against humanity. The chief defendant is yet without British jurisdiction but within the eX elusive jurisdiction of Holland which has stated as plainly as is possible for expression to be made Tn the Dutch language that the said Hohenzollern may remain in safety in Holland long he desires to do
 Though there is said to be no precedent for bring ing these culprits before world tribunal. the world naturally believes there ought to be some way to try and to punish them. They would probably not be severely punished but law would thereby be laid down by which future rulers would be guided ane threatened War would be begun only after much more mature reflection.
 In nstituting this proceeding, the British govern ment appears acted entirely on it's own motion with secret understanding with the heads of four other great powers The British people were pleased but surprised they hard of it for the first time on Thursday. The American delegates to the peace conference yet Paris stated that they knew nothing about the intended procedure beyond the fact that something indefinitely said in the treaty with Germany about it.
 Now. what if Holland decides to stand by the laws of that country respect the subject of extra dnion? The former German emperor is charged with no offense covered in any extradition treaty. We believe there are various old indictments against him in England growing out of bombing raids for which he was held responsible, but they were senti- mental expressions. There no likelihood that he would be brought to trial under them.
 It is said that the chief counts against the ex- Kaiser are for the invasion of Belgium and Luxem- burg Reprehensble as those acts were, they have previously been nowhere defined crimes They were crimes against right and humanity, but not against the laws of Great Britain the United States France Italy or Japan. No countrys laws have ever defined invasion of itselfhowever unjustified ard ruthless as a crime against itself There is inter national law the subject, though there was al international agreement which Germany violated.
 So if Holland stands it's laws, and confines
 itself to a strict observance of it's treaties, it evil denty intends to do the former Kaiser will not be surrendered.
 What then? Will Holland be made to feel the dspleasure of Great Britain? This could hardly be made to take the form of If so the world would be shown to have learned nothing from the of the last five years The doctrine that might makes ' right would be shown not to have been abrogated e The world in such a case far morals cerned, would be cleaner than it for all the blood that has washed it since August 1, 1914
 Economic pressure might be exerted against Hol land but that would be no moral than The United States could take part in neither. It would mark the end of all efforts that have been made toward a peace concert All could do would be to prepare and wait for the match that would touch off the next world conflagraton