New-York tribune., 1919-02-14
Foe Planned War
While Pretending
10 Be Opposing 1t
Book To Be Issued in Lon.
don To-day Indicates Ger
many Was Prepared Be-
fore Rms ia Mobilized

LONDON, Feb. 13.-While Chancel-
lor Won Bethmann Hollweg was assur-
ing Sir Edward Goschen, British Am
bassador at Berlin, on July 80, 1914,
that he was doing his utmost to pre-
vent the great European war, Germany
was actually doing everything possible
to bring on the conflict.
This is proved in a book based on
official documents and personal notes
Of diplomats and officials to be issued
tomorrow. The book was written by
Professor Charles ". C. Oman, presi~
dent of the Royal Historical Society
and professor Of history at Oxfor5
University. \. J. Balfour and Lord
Curzon are understood to have collabo-
rated with Professor Oman in the
preparation of the volume.
The book not only skaters certain
accepted stories regarding the origin
of the war, but also smashes forever
the German myth that the Russian
mobilization was the thing that really
brought on the war.
Was Planning HostiIities
On July so, Sir Edward Goscher
cabled to Sir Edward Grey:
THE Chancellor told ne last night
that he was pressing the button with
q view to forming q moGerating infiu-
enco CT Nicnna"
This telegram is contradicted by IN
formation contained in the book, in.
formation proving that just at thai
moment Germany was doing her ut
most to bring about hostilities.
The book makes reference to 8 jour
nalistic mystery which has never been
cleared up, the publication in The
Westminster Gazette" August /, 1914
of a dispatch alleged to have been sent
by Bethmann-H -Hollwcg to the German
Ambassador in Vienna. The dispatch
read:
Eve must refuse to be drawn into g
world conflagration through Austria
hungary not respecting our advice
"The Westminster Gazette" never re-
vealed the source of this dispatch. 1t
was never included in the German
White Book, and Germany never sought
TO make use of it in its oefence until
Chancellor Mchaelis dragged it out two
and a half years later in proof of Ger
many's alleged innocence and of the fact
that Germany was holding back until
the Russian mobilization, which, she
CLAIMED, was the real cause Of the war.
The evidence presented in the book,
however, shows the Russian mobiliza-
ton was caused by the open and direct
war threats made by Count Pourtales,
the German Ambassador at Petrograd,
that the Russian ministers knew all
about it and went ahead with their
plans and that when the war came EN-
peror Nicholas realized that they were
right and he was wrong in counter
mandlng the mobilization order
Demand Upon France
1t is shown that Baron Won Schoen,
the German Ambassador to France, had
in his possession a demand which
would make it impossible for France
to remain neutral-a demand for the
surrender of the fortresses of Toul
and Ncrdun. 1t is stated that Baron
Won Schoen actually had German of
fetal demand to this effect in his
pocket on one visit TO the French For
eign Office
One chapter of the book Is devoted
to an illustration of former Emperor
Williams personal treachery and his
elastic memory, enabling him convent
emily to forget unpleasant things
Other chapters point out the clumsy y
German attempt to lay the blame for
the war on France.