The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-17
GERMANS PLAN
FIGHT ON WAR
GUILT CHARGE
Ask for Court Not Composed
of Accusers in Challenge
to Allies.
HOPE FOR HELP OF U. s.
Documents Found in Vienna
May Shift Onus, Is Teu-
ton Belief.
HOPE FOR HELP OF U. s.
By NAEL n. Won wYEGAND.
stdr Correspondent Of TIE sus.
To0nyi1hy ro1a. rfY -;.l.. -.--.

stdr Correspondent Of TIE sus.
Copyright. 1919; all rights yessrred.
BERLIN. May IA (delayed) The
German Government is planning to
call up the entire question Of guilt
IN connection with the outbreak of
the war and to challenge the allied
Governments. 1t is so convinced of
The innocence Of It's own statesmen
that II will submit all state docu-
ments and data bearing upon the sub
tect to an international neutral court
to he held in Germany.
There Is reason to believe that the
German Government is prepared to
shift from defensive to offensive tac.
tics on this question. The note Of
Count Won Brockdorff. .Rantzau, the
head of the German peace delegation.
In answer to the confession of guilt
contained in the treaty of peace, may
he interpreted as prelude to a move
IN the direction of q demand to be
made at Versailles for an investiga.
zion Of the whole question by an Inn
partial commission or court which is
not composed of "accusers and judges
ct the same time and perhaps an
appeal to the public opinion of oil
countries to support that demand in
the interest of truth and justice.
No German Government, Count Won
Brockdorff-Rantzau declared to me
shortly before his departure for ver-
sailles. would ever sign a verdict that
Germany alone was the guilty factor
IN the world war. If such we're rem
deref by the allied and associated gov
eTnments In the terms of peace pre-
sented. He pointed out that such
governments themselves were inter
ested In seeing that Germany alone
should he declared guilty and there
fore, under the fundamental princi-
pies Of law, were not competent to
sit as a court.
Surprises Are Prepared.
From authentic sources 1t has been
learned that commission has been
appointed to take up the question
from Germany's viewpoint, and that
It is making extensive preparations
10 support such a demand at Yer
sailles with state documents. There
are rumors which are difficult to
verify that evidence has been found
which may create some surprise,
smong others that documents have
been discovered in Vienna which
throw new and somewhat different
light on the Serbian ultimatum and
Germany's attitude toward it than
what has been published hitherto.
How far these reports are based on
truth cannot be learned.
Germany, according to those who
are In a position to know what Is
going on in official minds, will take
the attitude that the German people
cannot permit the brand of sole guilt
Tor the terrible war to be placed upon
them forever In history without a de-
mand for an impartial investigation
from all sides and of all hands by an
International court or commission
competent under the fundamental
principles Of law to make such an in
quiry
II Is contended, especially in In
"'Iectual circles, that to permit such
brand OF Cain to be placed his
"rcally upon the brow Of the Ger
man people without an energetic pro-
"Ht and demand for world trial
would be interpreted in the future
aS an admission OF sole guilt and
would be crime by the German
Government against Its own people.
The line to be followed undoubt-
GUY Will be that laid down by For
elgh Minister Won Brockdorff- RantZau
IL MS speech at Versailles that the
"ermany of the former regime was
no' without Its share of guilt in
bringing about the war. but II was not
,ne only guilty nation, assumed by
the Allies.
Trap Laid fer Allies.
Ihe belief seems to prevail hero
mat the very factors which make II