The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-07-07
Journalist Says Latest AL
lied Plan is to Keep Form
er Emperor Where He is
Now.
CONSPIRACY AGAINST
PEACE TERMS FEARED
It is Pointed Out That So
Called king Trust" Does
Not Actually Want the
Kaiser Tried.
BY HAROLD &. BEcHTOI.


Paris, France, July 6.-The trial of
the ex-kaiser grows more doubtful
every day. This despite Great Brit
aims recent request that Holland guard
the former emperor OF Germany and
keep him interned on Dutch soil.
1t is the opinion of men of diplo-
matte and other governmental exper-
fence that Great Britain is not anxious
to put Bill HohenzolIern on trial for
his life, but that the British govern
ment recognizes the fact that the for
mer kaiser might make all kinds of
trouble if permitted to go back to Ger
many and assume the role of defender
of the German people in a conspiracy
to evade the peace term obligations.
British and French believe Wilhelm
could gain the support of Germans
if he would assume the leadership of
a movement to protest against COM
plying with the terms of peace. That
in such a conspiracy Wilhelm would
again become the popular idol of Ger
many. That is why they are so in
sistent upon his being held in Hol-
land
There is every evidence that the So
called king trust" does not want the
en- kaiser yfr1edssS arrd the mcnarchial
parties of all European countries are
opposed to the trial.
European statesmen show no inter
est whatever in requesting Holland to
turn him over. in the possible date of
the trial. or in what becomes of him.
They are content to let him sink
into ignominy.
Which is significant in view of the
+t,1 ts%a
men who insisted on including in the
treaty machinery for trial.
The American commission always
opposed a trial. They were for a
scathing public denunciation to pass
down in history. Prosecution, they
held. might be twisted into persecu-
ton of an individual, and arouse sym
pathy for Wilhelm.
Nobody over here shows any dfspo-
sition to ask for him. and it is a safe
bet that the present American admin
istration at least will make no request
Of Holland to turn him over.
One of the popular facts about the |
treaty section on responsibility is that |
while it provides for judges to try the |
it imposes on nobody the |
task of requesting it.
Germany is made responsible for |
out not the former emperor.
At one stage of the peace conference |
he big goveruv- ents sAggested to Bel
yium that she ask the Dutch govern
nent to turn him over for trial. Bel
,ium declined. And from that moment
Europe has shown less ard less in
crest in the cx-kaiser's trial.
L discussed the subject with one of
he men who throughout the peace /
conference was closest to the presi-
lent.
IT don't they will everstry him." said
his member of the American mission.
Tt might make him too popular m
Germany. Demand for his trial in Eu-
ope is falling Off. and nobody wants
o ask for him. 1t will probably go
~ default"
In European circles the answer is
Ilways the. same. It's the last thing
wants to talk about. Every
'ody's too busy on vital important
matters to thing about it," the foreign
ffices say.
In England the newspapers hardly
yer mention it nowadays-not even
he Northcliffe press. which through
ut the war was the most insistent in
emanding that the war criminals be
ried and punished.
The French press contains an infre-
uent reference-generaliy a sarcastic
alb aimed at the improbability of the ,
rial.
Some of the papers point out that ,
he treaty contains the following ar
alignment which would probably have
cen omitted If the conference had
eally anticipated trial: /,
The allied and associated powers
arraign William III of Ho-
enzollern. formerly German emperor, +,
or a supreme offense against inter-
ational morality and the sanctity."
1t is pointed out that a public ar
alignment was urged by America, who
pposed a trial
Events seem to show that the Eu-
,pean governments insisted on ma
ninery for the trial so they couldn't
2 lambasted for emitting it.
But they are quite content to "Iet it
ide." at least until there is far
reater pressure of public opinion than
lere is in Europe now. l.