The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-11
PRINCE
 WOULD SURRENDER.
 HE CABLES WILSON
"Take Me Insted of zoe Germans Who Have Com mitted No Offense,"
 He Pleads
By AssOslated Pres

Washington, February f0.-Pres-
 idcnt Wilson had before him to-
 night u personal cabicgram from
 Frederick Wilhelm. former Crown
 Prince of Germany. suggesting eff
 the allied and associated govern a mcntS want n victim, let them take
 me instead of the 900 Germans
 who have committed other off,
 fense than that of serving their
 country in the war"
 What action the President might take on the message which presumably wa identical with that reported in Amster- dam dispatches as sent to tho rulers and presidents of other powers opposed to Germany in the war was not dis closed. There was suggestion at the White House hat he might reply. mak ing his message the vehicle for re- expression of the opposition to trial Of the former German Emperor or other enemy officials expressed by American delegates at Paris. In some quarters however. the opinion prevailed that he would not even acknowledge its re-
 
 United States is not a party to the treaty or member of the League of Nations and has no legal voice in any proceedings as to extradition of Ger man officials or officers for trial
 The message did not come through state department channels but direct 4rom the refuge in Holland of the for mer German heir-apparent
 LANSING SILENT
 It has not come officially to the no tice of Secretary Lansing and he would not comment on it ip any way. It was indicated, however. that any action MT Wilson might take With regard to 1T would be more of a personal ohserva- tion the situation than an offlcial expression.
 The suggestion that Mir. Wilsoa might frame reply it was indicated. was based rather on Knowledge of his attitude toward the proposed whole sale trial of German officials and of ficers than on any intimation of 4his decision obtained today. There was nA doubt among officials of his strong op4 position to the whole eXtradition pro- ceedings now eonvulsing Germany since the formal demand for surren- 1 der of the long list was made l The President was said to hHl'nve 1 that Germany should be perm N ] work out her own salvation tttpN l the embarrassments that wou, ae i volved in making possible "ns out of offenders, whether tn orpe Emperor oh his son. or any ficer or official. It is under' oa n ] the contention that no gf aamtrt could remain in power in tfit aH 1 which agreed to surrender 955 1 cials Is taken seriously by 1 and his advisers.
 TEXT OF MESSAGE
 The message from the former Crown ! Prince was sent from Wirengen Island, Holland. yesterday, and similar cable grams are understood to have been for warded to the kings of England, Bel i gium and Italy, the Emperor of Japan and the President of France. The mes sage to President Wilson follows;
 ITO the President of the United States
 of North America, Mir. Wilson, Wash
 ington.
 "Mr. Wilson: The demand for the i delivery of Germans of every walk oi 1 life has again confronted my country, sorely tried by four years of war and one year of severe internal struggles with a crisis that is without prece- dent in the history of the world as af- ! fecting the life of people. That 3 government can be found in Germany which would carry out the demanded surrender is out of the question, the consequences to Europe of an enforce ment of the demand by violence are In calculable, hatred and revenge wouk be made eternal. As the former sue cessor to the throne of my German fatherland, I am willing at this fate I ful hour to stand up for my compatri cts. If the allied and associated gov ernments want a victim. let them tak' me instead Of the 900 Germans, wh' have committed no offense other thai i that of serving their country In th' ] war. WIlHEbM "Weirengen Island. February
 1920"