Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-03
BETFIMANN HOLLWEG. FORMER
GERMAN CHANCELLOR, IS DEAD
Originator of Scrap of Paper Was Forced
From Office In War Period by
Militarist Leaders.


BERLIN. January DIR. Theobald
Won Bethmann Hollweg. former Ger
man imperial chancellor. died last
night, after a brief illness, on his es-
tate at Hohenfinow, near Berlin.
DR.. Won Bethmann Hollweg was ap-
parently in good health until We'd
nesday. He spent Christmas as usual
with his family, but contracted a cold
which developed into acute pneu-
monia- His condition became steadily
worse and his private physician was
summoned from Berlin. but the
former chancellor had already become
unconscious and never regained con-
seriousness, dying late Saturday night
His wife died in 1914 and he lost his
eldest son in the war. lie is survived
by a daughter, Countess Zech, wife of
the secretary of the Prussian legation
at Munich, and a son, Felix, a stu
dent at Berlin.
On the last of his frequent visits to
Berlin. in midNovember, DR.. Won
Bethmann Hollweg was seen walk
ing in Inter den Linden, but the once
stalwart figure was no longer up
right; few pedestrians recognized in
the stopped figure and care worn face
the former imperial chancellor.
the revision of the final
proofs of the second volume of his
war diary which is announced for
early publication.
He will be buried Wednesday at
Hohenfinow
~Scrap OF Paper, Incident.
Among the latest prominent ACTIVE
ties of DR.. Won Bethmann Holweg in
international affairs and German ma
tional life, was his testimony in 1919
as a witness before national assembly
committees investigating RESPONSE
bility for the war. His testimony
brought out that he had originally
opposed the submarine warfare and
had issued warnings not to unoer-
estimate Americas strength in the
conflict.
One of the most famous utterances
during the war was that concerning
a scrap of paper" as regarded the
treaty guaranteeing the neutrality or
Belgium.
This treaty was so characterized by
Won Bethmann Hollweg during an in
terview which the then chancellor had
with Sir Edward Goschen, the British
to Germany. Speaking
with great irritation, the chancellor
expressed his inability to understand
Great Britain's attitude with regard
to Germany's attack on Belgium.
IT found the chancellor very much
agitated," said Sir Edward afterward,
writing Of the interview. His excel
lency at once began harangue which
lasted about twenty minutes. He said
the step taken by his majesty's govern
ment was terrible to degree. Just
in war time had SO often been disre-
garded-just for a scrap of paper
Great Britain was going to make war
on a kindred nation, which desired
more than to be friends with
her"
Sir Edward replied. in effect. that
he understood the chancellor's inabil-
ity to comprehend the British action,
but that Great Britain attached inn ,
portance to the scrap of paper" be-
cause it bore her signature, as well
as that of Germany.
bourg and perhaps have also found it
necessary to enter Belgian territory"
ne said on August 4. 1914. That is
to international law. We
know. however. that France was |,
.eady to invade Belgium. France |
.ou1d wait: we could not. as France !
:ould invade our lower Rhine flank. |.
which would prove fatal.
$50 we were forced to disregard the |
protests OF the Luxembourg and Bel. l.
,ium governments. We shall try TO /
make good the injustice we have COM /;
nitted as soon as our military goal |
las been reached" !
Term m Chancellor.
DIR. Won Bethmann Hollweg was
of Germany from July IA, |
l909, to July IA. 1917. He was sue !
:eeded in the Office by DR.. George
an appointee of the former |
<aiser. 1t was said that Won Beth !
mann Hollweg was forced out of Office |
the efforts of the militarists, |
headed by Hindenburg and Luden-
lorff, largely because of his SCRAP of
paper" statement and his admission !
hat the German invasion of Belgium
was unjust. The former chancellor
had on several occasions issued state
ments blaming the militarists for the
war. these appearing in 1916 and
1917. while in the two years previous
he had frequently declared that Eng
land alone was responsible.
DR.. Won Bethmann Hollweg received
prominent attention throughout the
world in June. 1919. when he formally
asked the allied and associated pow
ers to place him on trial instead of
the former kaiser. The supreme coun-