The daily times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1902-1936, 1919-06-30
BETHMAN HOLLWEG
TAKES THE BLAME
For "Scrap of Paper" Regard
ing Belgium and Requests
Allies to Try Him
INSTEAD OF THE KAISER

Berlin, Saturday, June 2S.-lby
tho Associated Press. DIR. Theo-
bald Won Bethmann Holloweg' lot
;mer German chancellor has formal
" asked the allied and assoclateo
mowers to place him on trial lnsteau
of the former Emperor. The former
Chancellor that he assumes response
bility for the acts of Germany during
this period of office and places him.
self at the disposal of the allies.
The request of the rormer chancel-
Cor was made on June 25th., in
communication to Premier Clemen-
ceau. president of the conference.
DR.. Won Bethmann Holloweg, IL Is
said desired to take this step on May
goth. but refrained at that time
on the expressed wish of the German
Government The communication
asks Premier Clemenceau to bring
the following document to the know
ledge of the allied and associated
wers.
I'm article 227 of the peace terms,
the allied and associated powers
publicly arraign his majesty, VIII
liam II of Hohenzollern, former
German Emperor, for a supreme
offense against international moral
ity and the sanctity of treaties. AT
the same time they announced their
resolve to address a request to the
government of the Netherlands for
the surrender of the former Emper-
or for the purpose of trial.
With reference thereto I take
the liberty of addressing request
20 the powers to let the projected
proceedings against his majesty, the
Emperor be taken against me; For
| this object I hereby place myself
at the disposal of the allied and as
sociated powers.
LAS former German Imperial
| Chancellor, I bear for my period of
| office sole responsibility, as regulat-
ed in the German constitution for
| the political acts of the Emperor.
| believe 1 may deduce therefrom
| the claim that the reckoning which
the allied and associated powers
desire to demand for these acts shall
/ be demanded solely of me.
Being convinced that the allied
| and associated powers will not deny
international respect to the legal po-
| sition fixed by public constitutional
law, 1 may express the hope that
| they will be inclined to yield to my
| (Signed)-
| Won Bethmann Holloweg.
! Hohenfinow, June 25.
| Author of Phrase "Scrap of Paper
DR.. Won Bethmann Holloweg was
| German Chancellor from 1909 TO
July 14th, 1917. He succeeded
| Prince Won Buelow.
| The definition of the treaty guar
| anteeing the neutrality of Belgium
| as a "scrap of paper was made
| by Won Bethmann Holloweg in an
| address to the Reichstag shortly af-
ter the beginning of the war. The
former chancellor has blamed the
militarists for starting the war, while
he, in turn has been blamed.
| Last February the former chan
cellor offered to go before a trib-
unal to give an accounting for his
| stewardship as chancellor. 1t was
| announced in Berlin on May 27th.
that Won Bethmann Holloweg would
be among those who would be tried
by the German court which would
Investigate responsibility for the
loss Of the war by Germany.
Allies Will Try Him for His Own
Sake.
9e has been mentioned severa
times as among those who Nigh
be tried by the allies for po1itica
offenses in connection with the orr
gin of the war.
DR.. Won Bethmann Holloweg il
50 years old Before becoming chan
cellor he was Prussian minister o
the interior and imperial treasure
and vice-chancellor. He held tn
rank of lieutenant general in th
: German army Since his retiremen
from office, the former chancello
has been living at BNhenfinow, hi
estate near Eberswald, 27 mile
snorth of Berlin.