The sun., 1919-07-29
HOLLWEG ASSUMES
ALL RESPONSIBILITY


people endeavor to face or to eyade
that responsibility?
THAT brings me to the purpose Of
your visit-my views Of the demand
by the Allies for the former Kaiser
and the German officers. 1t Is hardly
necessary for me to say what think
Of articles 227 and 22S of the treaty
Of peace. We will leave my own per-
son out of the discussion. 1 have
never evaded my responsibility; that
ought to suffice. Right and justice
have nothing to do with this demand
for the former Emperor and his Of
ficers; 1t remains an act Of might or
force"
A Peace of Might ana Force.
but the Germans signed the con-
ditions," 1 interposed.
"Will any one find therein sufficient
legal basis for an act Of force against
Germany" demanded the farmer
Chancellor. 1.-THE German names in
the Versailles treaty mean nothing
more than that the German Govern
ment submitted to the most brutal
compulsion of might. The entire peace
is might and force. Sanction Is not
given to that might and force through
signatures Obtained by extortion.
There was time when the thumb
screw and the wheel Of torture were
legal methods of justice. In this age,
by means of hunger and torture
against the whole people together,
the most terrible physical compulsiop
declarations Of dishonor are ex-
torted."
The words Of the aged former
Chancellor often had a hnge Of bit
terness when he contended that there
was no recognized principle Of inter
national law under which the head OF
| leaders Of one State could be hailed
before a tribunal OF another State OF
group Of States.
''At best 1t can be declared an act
Of force, and never has the right OF
might been proclaimed 50 openly al
in the Versailles document. Do the
Allies intend to % away with the SOW
ereign rights of States? Do they pro
pose to establish the precedent that
one State or group Of States may BY
rea son OF their might call before them
the sovereign or the statesmen of
weaker State to demand an account
ing and pass judgment? Where would
that leadf
1.-THE judgment that future his
torians will render over the attemp
to usher In an era of new justice
where the accusers are the judges
will not be bettered by the Entente
statesmen through the prosecution Of
the former Kaiser and his officers
which would constitute an act OF In
satiable revenge. =
No Cruelty Parallel in History.
IT cannot see that anything would
be accomplished by. such trials except
a spectacular confirmation of success
in the war and the desire to see the
defeated enemy behind the chariot, al
in the days when the victoriou:
Achilles dragged the slain body Of
Hector around the walls of Troy
History has no parallel where cruelty
has continued with such cold calcula
ton as after the end of this war.
"Does the League of Nations, avow
edly created to make wars less pos
sible, IL not impossible; desire to per
petuate a feeling Of implacable re
yenge? Is 1t believed that this would
be the last trial in which the defeated
will stand before the victor? Do moi
for a moment think that the mora
depression, a result of terrible suffer
ing, which you observe In the Ger
man people will be permanent
THE German people will DO every
thing in their power TO recover theil
honor. Should the Entente insist
upon humillating the people they may
in time react against those whose
hatred has made them insensible tc
all principles Of justice"
Asked what he thought would b.
Hollands action, he said:
~ am convinced that Holland will
be guided exclusively by her laws and
high principles OF justice, as she evel
has been"
"How do you view the future o.