El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-04-30

TTAPDLY any news could have come from Paris that
II you'd have been more welcomed than the announce
ent made through the statement at Washington that the
peace treaty with Germany drawn, for presentation to
the Germans contains clause that former emperor VII
liam be tried by international tribunal For long
time, While experts were delving into dusty tones in
search Ct precedent it looked though technical barriers
were to raised which would to protect the former
emperor Of Germany against having to answer for his afro
cious crimes.
Indeed it Is ven understood that secretary Of state
Lansing opposed bringing the head Of the house Of Hohen
zoen to sl because he said law could be found to
justify the trial Of man for crimes for which he may
responsible from the standpoint Of authority but
which he did not actually commit Mr. Lansing said to
have argued long IN the peace conference against eror
exrade and try the former emperor. Like probably all
other Americans he opposed to the creation Of an ex
post faCto law to fit the case
However It appears that his objections have been
come by the drafting Of the Indictment If it may be
called against the Hohenzoen in such wise that he is not
accused Of offense against criminal law He is to be
tried supreme offence against international morality
and the sanctity Of treaties
The peace treaty, It Is announced, is to contain an
article follows
'The allied and associated powers publicly arraign VIII
liam II Of Hohenzoern, former German emperor not for
offence against criminal law but for supreme offence
against international morality and the sanctity Of treaties
special tribunal VII be constituted 10 try the accused
thereby assuring him the guarantees essential to the right
Of defence VIII be composed Of five judges appoint
BY each Of the following five powers namely the United
States Of America Great Britain France Italy and Japan
its decision the tribunal VIII be guided by the highest
motives Of international policy with view 70 vndcatng
the validity Of international morality It VIII be its duty
FIX the punishment which it considers should be i'm
posed"
The text goes on to say that communication win be
addressed to Holland, asking for the ezradtion Of the
former emperor
At once the question arises whether Honand win be
Wiling TO deliver the former emperor Of Germany mp 70
the allies for trial The press Of Holland stouty main
tains that the surrender Of the former kaiser if It is
compshed must be made IN accordance with international
that connection, observation By the Saturday
Review Of London is interesting. It says:
Those who know anything about international law
aware that William cannot legally be exradited because
he has not committed any Of the specific offences set forth
treaties Of eLradtion An extraordinary tribunal must
be set up for his trial Ths is provided for in the excerpt
from the peace treaty given above) But suppose the
Dutch refuse 10 give him ups The Dutch may yield TO
force zeure Superior strength and probably they VIII
do so under protest"
FrtheruoTe the same publication has form Of trial
and punishment already worked out for the unhappy
Wilhelm saving.
aThe best thing would be to try the ezkase1 slowly
sza soemny, that the record of his crimes may sink
drop by drop into the conscience Of mankind.
"And then having found hmi gui y, he should be in
TENED IN Of the Pacific islands He danger in
Europe for there is strong kaiser party IN Germany
which VII grow stronger if the disorder continues few
months Of Spartacism and the Germans would sigh
for Hohenzolern. In fact were there clever Hohen-
zolern OF Hapsburg in existence, he would today have
great chance
The London periodical evidently Is against the death
penalty for Wilhelm the gTouns that it might serve 10
put martyrs halo around him That at least, may be
probable that the German delegates to the peace
conference VIII hesitate about putting their signatures to
document which contains provision for the eZtradiion
ana tal Of their former emperor The fact Of their sig
nature would constitute assent in the fullest sense That
opposition Is to be expected may be deduced from sort
OF propaganda appearing in TIE German press This
seeks to excuse the former emperor Of responsibility for the
atrocities Of BY laying that responsibility upon the
military clique that surrounded him
The Erankdurter Zeitung vel remembered as spreader
Of lperat propaganda all during the war now suggests
that the kaiser surrounded BY camara of strong