New-York tribune., 1920-02-17
Allies Demand
Punishment of
The Ex-Kaiser
Contipued from page 1

bought Is so placed as TO be easily
guarded, and it is somewhat further
from the German frontier than Amc
rongen, where the former Emperor now
is living.
The note was delivered late last
night direct to the Dutch Premier by
the British Minister at The Hague
The note had not reached the Dutch
Foreign Office this morning nor was
there any explanation forthcoming as
to why it had been delivered to the
Premier instead of through the regular
diplomatic channels.
LONDON, Feb 16 by The Associated
Press) following is the text of the
note sent by the Allied powers to Hol-
land regarding the extradition of the
former German Emperor:
"The immense sacrifices made in the
general interest by the powers during
the war enttle them to ask the Neither
lands to reconsider its refusal, based
on the weighty, but entirely personal
aloof from the war and cannot per-
haps appreciate quite accurately all the
duties and dangers Of the present hour
"The obligations of the powers to-
ward other nations, the gravity of
the question concerned, as we'll as the
very grave political effects to which
REIMBURSEMENT Of the claims Of justice
against The cx-Emperor would give
rise, all constrain them to uphold and
renew their demand.
Dutch Policy Not Disrcgarded
"Thc powers do not ask the Queen s
government to depart from its trad-
tonal policy, but to consider that the
nature of their request, which does not
in their opinion depend solely. or even
mainly, on Dutch municipal law, has
rot been adequately appreciated.
'No question of prestige is at stake
and the powers pay as much heed to
the conscientious sentiments Of q state
with limited interest as to the mature
decision of great powers, but cannot
wait for the creation Of a world tri-
bunal competent to examine interna-
tional crimes before bringing to trial
the responsible author of the catas-
trophc OF the great war.
at is precisely this contemplated
trial which would prepare the way for
such tribunal end demonstrate the
unanimity of feeling animating the
conscience of the nations Of the world.
The powers wish to point out that the
league of nations has not vet reached
state Of development sufficient to
allow any application to it, or to a
tribunal Of any kind created by it,
meeting with that prompt satisfaction
which is surely essential.
Section missing)
Civilization's Duty to Punish
1T does rot appear to consider that
it shares with other civilized nations
the duty of securing the punishment
Of crimes against justice and the prin-
ciples Of hum ity-crimes for which
William Of Hohenzollern undeniably
bears a heavy responsibility.
"The note Of January Is was sent in
the name Of the Allies, twenty-five in
number, who were signatories to the
treaty of peace and the collective man.
datories of a majority of the civilized
nations of the world. 1t is impossible
to disregard the collective force of
this request, which is the expression
not only of the feeling of Indignation
Of the victims but Of the demand for
justice made by the conscience of hu-
manity as whole.
"Thc Netherlands government surely
has not forgotten that the policy and
personal actions of the man required
for judgment by the powers have cost
men, murdered in their prime, and
have been responsible for the mutiIa-
tion or shattered health of three times
as many, the laying waste to and the
destruction of millions of square
miles of territory in countries for
merly Industrious, peaceab!e and
happy, and the piling up of war debts
running into billions. the victims be-
ing men who had defended their free
dom and incidentally that of Holland.
Famine and Want ToSlow War
The economic and social existence
of ali these nations has been thrown
into confusion, and they are now
ieopardized by famine and want--the
terrible results of that war of which
William II was the author.
The Allies cannot corccal their sur
prise at finding III the Dutch reply TO
snglc word Of disapprovsl Of the
crimes committed by the Emperor,
crimes which outrage the most elemen-
t&ry sentiments Of humanity and civili-
zation. and OF which, in particular, so
many Dutch nationals themselves have
Deeh the innocent victims on the high
seas. To help briN" to justice the au-
thor OF such crimes p.a!nly conscrts
wish the aims of the ieague or nations.
How can anyone fail to be impressed
by the reactionarv mantle. tations which
have followed the refusal of Holland,
ana inc dangerous encouragement TO
all those who are opposing the just
chastisement Of the culprits and their
exemplary condemnation. whatever
their social position.
"Holand, whose history tells of
long struggles for Liberty, VINO has
suffered so grievously through disre-
gard for justice, could not y ace hep
sell by such d narrow conception OF
her duties outside Of The comfy OF
netions. duty, which none can
avoid for material reasons. however
WeightT they may be, Is to unite in
orcer 10 metc out exemplary punish
ment to responsible authors Of the
disasters and abominat.ons Of the war
and endeavor to revive conceptions ri
solidarity and humanity in the Ger.
man nation, which is still uncon-
vIreed of the falsity of the tenets Of
ITS government who professed that
might was right and success condoncd
crime.
Responsibility Put on Holland
ut vas from this point of view. and
not exclusively from national stand
point, that tic powers requested the
government Of the Queen to nand over
" lillian Of Hohonzolor., and from
this point of view they now renew
that request. The powers desire to
remind the Government of the Neither
-