Omaha daily bee., 1919-06-30
HOLLWEC TAKES
BLAME FOR WAR
And ASKS TRIAL
Former German Chancellor
Assumes All Responsibility
for Acts of Huns Dur.
ing Term of Office.
PUTS HIMSELF WHOLLY
AT DISPOSAL OF ALLIES
Request Made in Communica-
ton to Premier Clemen-
ceau of France.

Berlin. June 29.-(By the Associ-
ated Press. DIR, TheobaId Won
Bethmann-Hollweg. former German
chancellor, has formally asked the
allied and associated powers to place
him on trial instead OF the former
emperor. The former chancellor
says that he assumes responsibility
for the acts OF Germany during his
period of Office and places himself
at the disposal OF the allies.
The request of the former chan.
cellor was made June Is in a com.
munication to Premier Clemenceau,
president of the conference. DR.. vor
Bethmann-Hollweg, it is said. de-
sired to take this step May 20, but
refrained at that time on the ex-
pressed wish Of the German gov
ernment. The communication asks
Premier Clemenceau to bring the
following document to the knowl-
the reckoning which the allied and
powers:
"In article 227 OF the peace terms,
the allied and associated powers ar
raign His Majesty William II of
Hohenzollern, former German en-
peror, for supreme offense against
International morality and the
sanetity of treaties. At the same
time they announce their resolve to
address request to the government
of the Netherlands for the surrender
of the former emperor for purpose
OF trial
Offers Up Himself.
with reference thereto | takx
the liberty of addressing a requS n
T to the powers to let the projected
proceedings against his majesty the
emperor be taken against me. For
this object l hereby place myself
at the disposal of the allied and
associated powers.
"As former German imperial chan
cellor, / bear for my period of office
sole responsibility, as regulated in
the German constitution, for the po-
litical acts of the emperor. I believe
deduce therefrom the claim that
the beginning of the war. The for
associated powers desire to demand
for these acts shall be demanded
solely on being convinced that the
allied and associated powers will not
deny international respect to the
legal position fixed by public con-
stitutional law. l may express the
hope that they would be inclined to
yield to my urgent request.
(Signed) -
"Von Bethmann-H Hollweg."
! Eight Years Chancellor. Y
| DR.. Won Bethmann-H Hollweg wal
German chancellor from 1909 to Ju4
IA, 1917. He succeeded Prince Va
Buelow. n
The definition of the treaty gus;
anteeing the neutrality of BelgisH
as scrap of paper" was made
Won Bethmann-Hollweg in an Al
dress in the reichstag shortly aff,
the beginning of the war. The fol
mer chancellor has blamed the mil
itarists for starting the war, whilS
he in turn, has been blamed.
| Last February he offered to I'd
before a tribunal to give an account
ing for his stewardship as chanceh
lor, 1t was announced in Berlirs
March u, Won Bethmann-Ho oIlweg
would be among those who would
be tried by the German court which
would investigate responsibility for
the loss of the war by Germany.
He has beer mentioned several
times as among those who might be
tried by the allies for political Of
lenses in connection with the origin
of the war.
DR.. Bethmann- Hollweg is 62
years old. Before becoming chan
cellor he was Prussian minister OF
!. the interior and imperial treasurer
and vice chancellor. He held the
rank of lieutenant general in the
German army. Since his retirement
from office he has been living at
Hohenfinow. his estate near Ebers-
waldo, north of Berlin.