Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-10
HOW Will the EX-Kaiser Make His Defense?
by CARL ACKERMAN.
=. OUR years ago. on the 81st of
I July, William Of Hohenzollern,
the "all-highest war lord" and

ooh years ago, on the 31st of
X July, William Of Hohenzollern,
the "all-highest war lord" and
(. German emperor. from his
y Headquarters in Charleville, France,
gave a manifesto" to the German
people," in which he said
"One year has elapsed since I was
obliged to call the German people
to arms. An unprecedented time of
bloodshed has befallen Europe and
the world.
Before God and history my con-
science is clear. did not will this
war;"
This year, on the fifth anniversary
OF the beginning of the greatest war
in history. William the coward, exiled
in the castle Of Dutchman at Anne
rongen, stands indicted before the
world "for supreme offense against
International morality and the sane
tity of treaties"
Guilty, according to the verdict of
public opinion in allied and associated
countries, formed after FIVE years Of
careful consideration of the evidence
presented by Germany and nearly
every government of the world. what
Will be his defense? Who will de-
fend him? Will he submit to trial?
What proof does the former King of
Prussia and German emperor have
that he did not will this war?
or course, 1t is q simple matter to
argue around the circle" about the
guilt OF the ex-emperor. He started
the war. caused the neutrality Of Bel
GUM to be violated, ordered the Lusi-
tania torpedoed, was responsible for
the execution Of Edith Cavell, sane
toned ruthless submarine warfare
and ruled and reigned in Germany
during that nations four years activ-
ity as belligerent outlaw. There
fore, we are inclined to argue, he is
guilty of the charges preferred by
the peace conference. He will be
tried. convicted and punished. His
trial will set an international prece-
dent. and. for the first time in his
tory. the rulers of all countries will
learn that they are responsible to a
higher tribunal than any within their
own countries.
The whole discussion of the kaiser's
guilt and responsibility is SO obvious
that the question Of his defense is not
even considered. although the peace
treaty. in article 227. plainly states
that "a special tribunal will be con-
stituted to try the accused. thereby
assuring him the guarantees essen
tial to the right Of defense. It will
be composed of five judges. one ap-
pointed by each Of the following pow
ers: The United States of America,
Great Britain. France, Italy and ia
pan.
I'm Its decision the tribunal will be
guided by the highest motives of in
ternational policy. with the view Of
vindicating the solemn obligations Of
international undertakings and the
validity Of international morality. 1t
will be its duty to hx the punishment
which 1t considers should be imposed.
The allied and associated powers
will address q request to the govern
mont Of the Netherlands for the SUR
render to them Of the ex- emperorsin
order that he may be put on trial."
The fallacy. however. Of arguing
around q circle" is that one misses
some OF the points. Most Of the world
may consider the erstwhile kaiser
guilty, but he himself and a good
many million persons in Germany,
Austria and Hungary. not to mention
German sympathizers in other parts
Of the world. think him innocent.
Where there are such definite. sharp
and irreconcilable divisions Of opin-
ion presented at a criminal or political
trial between the prosecution and de-
Tense. the outcome is always q mat
ter of doubt; but in the case Of the
ex-kaiser the verdict Of guilty" is so
certain that the task of justifying or
defending the accused becomes colos-
sal. In comparison to the defense in
any other case known to jurispru-
dence. In this case the work Of the
prosecution will be simple. For Ave
years the world has been accumulat-