The sun., 1919-08-03
KAISER WAS EAGER
/: SUEFOR PEACE
White Book Reveals That He
Reached Fhis Decision
October 81.
KNEW THE. WAR WAS LOST
AS Early September Aus.
tria Was Consulted Regard
70 ingAppeal to Wilson.


By Me Associated Prsss.
BERLIN. July 81 (delayedD The Ger
man Enperor's statement on October 27,
1918. that he had reached an unalterable
determination to sue for q separate
peace, within tweuty-four hours and to
demand an Immediate armistics Is one
Of the many interesting revelations of
German war diplomacy contained In
the White Book, published to-day at
weimar The book. which contains ON
cial documents relating to the negotia-
tions from August 13, 1919. to the sign
ing of the armistice on November IL is
issued by the government. It IL an
nounced in the preface, because the peo-
pie want to know the truth.
The Emperor's decision to seek peace
Immediately, according to documents in
the White Book, he considered neces-
sary because he believed the people both
unable and unwilling to continue the
war. The German rulers conscience
was said to forbid him to permit fur
ther bloodshed.
More than a month earlier, in Sep
ter.ber, according to the documents.
General Ludendorff heard that Bulgaria
had offered to sign a separate peace.
In the official discussion of direct
appeal to the United States 1t was
agreed that Washington should be desig-
mated as the centre of peace negotiations.
as a matter of politeness. Austria was
consulted by telephone regarding the
proposed appeal.
In NJ
On October Field Marshal Won Hin
denburg telegraphed to Vice Chancellor
Friedrich Won Payer stating that II
Prince Max OF Baden should form a
government he would agree to the APP
peal for peace being delayed until the
next morning, but he insisted that the
peace offer be sent Immediately II there
were any doubt about the formation OF
the Max government. ~
On the same day Gen. Groener re-
ported that Gen. Ludendorff had de-
clared that delay would be fatal; that
the formation of a new government
should not be awaited, and that break
in the military line was possible at any
minute and that them any. peace offer
obtained would be unravorabie. Gen.
Groener said 1t was his impression Gen.
Ludendorff had lost his nerve completely.
Prince Max Immediately inquired II
Hindenburg were unable to hold the
front He received an answer that the
army stood by its demand. for, an Inn
mediate peace OFFER. s''s' D.
Prince Max still held the matter OF
peace was premature, but other men,
bers OF the Cabinet sided with Gen.
Ludendorff and maintained that the
military verdict must be adhered to be-
cause, if the situation should be made
x,oroa hxr H1<-n idapft yVtlaopsl N the
army would seek to dodge responsibility
Field Marshal Insistent.
Prince Max inquired OF military head
quarters y ,they were aware that peace
action under the pressure of military
distress would mean the loss of Ger.
man colonies, Alsace- Lorraine and part
of Poland. Hindenburg replied that he
insisted upon an immediate offer oi
peace being made. .'s-f' e. 't-
Conflicts of opinion continued be-
tween Berlin and. the army command
according to the documents, up to oc-
tober 20. President Wilson's second
note ON the peace terms. however
brought stormy protest from the su.
preme army command. which wanted
to break off negotiations. Gen, 'Luden
dorff looked at the matter more hope.
fully.
After President Wilson's third note
on October %, Gems. Gallwitz an6
Muera asked for a last opportunity &c
show that Gerrnany's position was moi
as bad as it was described. but their at.
tempts in this way to prevent Austria
making a separate peace failed. Newt
Of the Turkish armistice followed and
since the Allies agreed to President
Wilson's fourteen points, the German
ha Nnar a
White Book points out that wherever
an attempt to delay the armistice wa,
suspected. troops rose in protest and al
differences between Berlin and the su.
preme army command were dropped. 1,
Ludendorff' Takes Exception.
Gen. Ludendorff takes sharp exception
to many statements contained In tn,
White Book, particularly the charge thai
he and his staff were unreliable as a con.
sequence, of. nervousness The Genera
asserts that 1t is strange the members o.
the Foreign Office were SO ignorant o.
the situation.
The second note sent by Presiden
Wilson left no doubt In his mind OF tn,
necessity for continuing the fighting
says Gen. Ludendorff. He adds that h,
and his Generals were unable to predict
precisely that 1t was possible to hold
out or not.
Gen. Ludendorff says further that DR.
Solf (Secretary OF State for Colonies al
the time) drew false conclusions when
DR.. Solf said that he Uudendorff) could
not hold for three months for he
Oudendorff) had prepared new posi-
tions that could have been held.
Gen. Ludendorff says Admiral Won
Hentze (then Foreign Secretary m
formed him that the reason for the Ger
man peace offer was the separation OF
Bulgaria from the Central Powers and
that no mention was made of nervous
ness. He calls the description of Incl
dents from August IS to September "a.
given by Won Hintze, completely one
sided, and gays, that his book which Is
to appear this month will clear up the
misunderstandings OF the situation.