New-York tribune., 1920-05-26
Hindenbure
Forced Resort
To U-Boat w ar
Secret Protocols Disclose
Kaiser and Hollweg Were
Lukewarm Toward I'M
restricted Campaign
Prepared for America
Field Marshal Declared, ''We
Gould Hold Out, bui
Our Allies Gould Not"

BERLIN, May % By The Associated
Press s).-Secret protocols or the sub-
marine war now published include an
account of the conference held at Pless
January and 9, 1917, between Field
Marshal Won Hindenburg, General Lu-
dendorf and Admiral Won Holtzendorff
ana other naval officers
Admiral Won Holtzendorff advocated
unrestricted U-boat warfare, which.
however, he asserted the German En-
peror and Chancellor Won Bethmann-
nollWeg seemed to be lukewarm about.
lie added that Won Hollweg
wanted diplomatic preparations as a
rellmlnary, in order to keep the
United States out of the war, and that
the opinion prevailed in the Foreign
Once that if the United States came in
south America was bound to follow.
During the course of the convprsa-
tlons Won Holtzendorff asked: what
shall we do if the Chancellor refuses ~
Won Hindenburg g-That's what is
bothering me- too.
Won Holtzendorf Then you must
become Chancellor.
Ready to Fight United States
But Won Hindenburg repeatedly re-
fused, saying he could not talk in the
Reichstag. Finally the field marshal
said; well then, we will stick to-
gether. 1t must be. We reckon with
war with the United States and we have
made all preparations. Things cannot
get worse. The war must be shortened
by every possible MEANS"
Then Won Holtzendorff said: "His
majesty is not familiar with the situa-
tlon and the sentiments among his own
people"
General Lusendorff agreed with this
and Won Holtzendorf continued: "The
people are crying out for unrestricted
U-boat war"
That's right said Ludendorff.
Admiral Won Holtzendorf went on:
Or. Helfferich former Vice -Chancel-
lor) said to ne; Your road leads to
catastrophe. I replied: You let US
drift'into catastrophe.
Another document gives an account
Of the conversation between Field Mar
shal Won Hindenburg, General Luden-
dorff and Chancellor Won Bethmann-
Hollweg at Pless, January 9, 1917. at
war is the last card. Il is very grave
decision. If the military authorities
regard it as indispensable I am not in
position to deny it"
Armed Against Eventualities
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg re
Piled: "W are armed against all even
Qualities, against the United States
Denmark Holland and Switzerland
Cruiser warfare is Improbable enough
We need the most ruthless and ener-
getic action, and. therefore, unrestrict-
ed U-boat war, from February i. The
war must end quickly. We could hole
on, but our allies could not"
General Ludendortf then further ex-
planned how unrestricted U-boat war
fare would benefit the army, which, he
added. must be spared another Somme
battle"
Won Bethmann- Hollweg; "America's
aid, if she comes in, will consist of
foodstuffs for England, financial assist
ance, flying machines and a volunteer
army
Must Garry Out U-Boat War
Non Hindenburg: "We Will fix them
all right. The opportunities for unre-
strcted U-bOat war are as favorabe lie
now as they ever Will be. We can anc
must carry it out
Chancellor Won Bethmann agreed
that If the results were likely to be
as stated it would be necessary te
adopt the course advocated. but he ven
tured: And if Switzerland comes il
and the French came through there ?"
To which Won Hindenburg replied
THAT would not be favorable from 8
military point Of view"