New-York tribune., 1921-03-15
Witte Denies
Kaiser Sought
World League
Proposal Declared
10 Have Referred to an
Alliance Of Russia and
Germany Against France
Teuton Duplicity Shown
Ministers Deceived While
Secret Agreement With
Czar Was Formulated

The former German Emperor's pro-
posal for league of nations, described
in his book written with the object Of
showing that Great Britain was re
sponsiblc for the World War, excerpts
of which have been cablcd from The
Hague, is definitely challenged and
contradicted in the forthcoming mem
oirs of Count Witte, the noted Rus
sian statesman. Tho former German
Emperor asserts that he proposed
league of nations consisting of the
Triple Alliance and the French and
Russian alliance, and that this pro-
posal was accepted by the Russian EN-
pcror and Count Wittc
After detailing in an earlier chapter
a proposal of the German Emperor
for an offensive economic alliance be-
tween Russia and Germany against the
United States. Count Witte refers to
his so-called league Of nations pro-
posal.
In 1905 Count Witte saw the German
ruler on his way to Russia after ne
gotiating the treaty Of Portsmouth, and
their talk assumed serious aspect.
Union Suggested by Wittc
Having referred briefly to my sue
cess at Portsmouth" says Witte, che
turned to the general political situa-
ton in Europe and reverted to our
Peterhof conversation. ! reiterated my
profound belief in the desirability of
q general rnpprochement of the three
main bodies polite of Europe, Russia,
Germany and France, this rapproche-
ment tending to become a close union,
which, of course, would be joined by
other European powers.
"Delivered from the burden of mill
tary expenditures, Europe would be
enabled to create mighty naval force
which would dominate the world. His
majesty assured me that he shared my
views and then declared that my scheme
had finally been carried into effect
at his meeting with Emperor Nicholas
at Bjorkoe. Having impaired to me
this extraordinary piece of news, his
majesty asked me whether | was salts
fed with this development, and in my
innocence | replied that his words had
filled my heart with Joy. We parted"
Upon his arrival in St. Petersburg
(Petrograd) Count Witte had an ing
terview with Emperor Nicholas. "Hls
Majesty told me-" writes the count.
that he had received q letter from
Emperor William, in which the German
sovereign spoke of me in admiring
terms. He was glad. he added, that I
shared the views which were the foun-
datlon of his agreement with Germany.
concluded at Bjorkoe. The text Of the
mysterious agreement however, his
Majesty did not show me.
Real Agreement Disclosed
"Thc next day | met Count Lams-
dorf, our Minister OF Foreign Affairs.
After the customary greetings and con
gratulations, he asked me, his voice
vibrant with illcontrolled indignation:
Do you really approve OF the
Biorkoc treaty.? p"
81 confessed that had not. where
upon he handed me the text Of the
document saying that he had received
it only on the previous day and bidding
me read it. The count looked pro-
foundly excited and upset As read
the document understood the cause of
his excitement. The substance Of the
agreement was that Germany and
Russia obligated themselves to defend
each other in case of war with any