Norwich bulletin., 1919-06-30
Would Stand
 1ridinP|aCeofkaiser
Former German Chancellor Has Made Proposition to the Allies and Associated Powers.

Berlin, Saturday, June 2S (By the A. P:);-Dr. Theobald Won Bethmann- f1oiiWeg, former German chancellor, mas formally asked ths allied and as- sociated powers to place him on trial instead of the former emperor. The 1ormer chancellor says that he assumes responsibility for the acts of Germany ourlng his period of office and places hlmself at the disposal of the allies.
 The request of the former chancellor was made on June 25 iii a communica- tion to Premier Clemenceau, president of the conference. Dr. Won Bethmann- Hollweg, it is said. desired to take this step May 20. but refrained at that time on the expressed wish of the German government The communication asks Fremler Clemenceau to bring the fol- lowing document to the knowledge of the allied and associated powers:
 In Article 227 of the peace terms the allied and associated powers pub llcly arraign His Majesty William II Of Hohenzollern, former German em- peror, for a supreme offense against international morility and the sanctity Of treaties. At the same time they announced their sesolve to address a request to the government of The Netherlands for the surrender of the former emperor for purpose of trial.
 With reference thereto. take the liberty of addressing a request to the powers to let the projected proceedings against his majesty the emperor be taken against me. For this object hereby place myself at the disposal of ] the allied and associated powers. "As former German imperial chan cellor, l bear for my period of office | sole responsibility, as regulated in the German constitution, for the political l acts of the emperor. 1 believe I may 1 deduce therefrom the claim that the reckoning which the allied and asso- | ciated powers desire to demand for 1 these acts shall be demanded solely of me.
 1 Being convinced that the allied and | associated powers will not deny inter-
 national resepct to the legal position l fixed by public constitutional law, i ma yexpress the hope that they will be l inclined to yield to my urgent request | /. (Signed)
 WON BETHMANN- N-HOLLWEG.
 'Hohenfinow, June 25"
 Dr. Won Bethmann- Hollweg was German chancellor from 1909 to July II, 1917. He succeeded Prince Vor BueIow.
 The definition of the treaty guaran. | lCVlHS tIl6 O1 DclS dS
 scrap of paper" was made by Vol
 Bethmann- Hollweg in an address t
 the reichstag shortly after the begin
 ming of the war. The former chancel
 Tor has blamed the militarists fo
 starting the war. while he, in turT I has been blamed.
 Last February the former chancello ' offered to go before tribunal to giv an accounting of his stewardship a , chancellor. It was announced in Der
 lin on March P that Won Bethmann Hollweg would be among those wh would be tried by the German cour F which would investigate responsibilit
 for the loss of the war by Germany.
 The name of Won Bethmann- Hollwe
 has been mentioned several times a |. among those who might be tried b ( : the allies for political offenses in con nection with the origin of the war. Dr. Won Bethmann- Hollweg is $ years old. Before becoming chancello [ he was Prussian minister of the in terior and imperial treasurer and vic :, chancellor. He held the rank of lieu tenant general in the German arm, Since his retirement from office tn
 former chancellor has been living z . Hohenfinow. his estate near Ebers l walde, 27 miles north of Berlin.