Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-01-22
NO[ECAL EXCUSE
FOR KA|SER'S TRIAL
Sneaker at Ledger Forum Tells
Why Americans Opposed Ar
raigning Ex-Monarch
posTERlTY WILL BE GLAD


American Commission rendered a serv
,,o 70 the world at large in standin
=. n rock against the trial of the kaise
,or n legal offense and that Hollnn
,.s made the world its debtor by re
trsinr TO surrender the kaiser for tn
commission Of an ofense admittedl
II was undoubtedly a surprise TO tn
audience at the seventh meeting OF Tn
pTnt1C LEDGER's Forum ou the peac
.onfercuce in the AcademJ OF Musi
toycr last night to hear this country
iocai expert to Paris thus defend tn
continued immunity of William. o
uobenzollern, but 1t must have beer
soually surprising to them to realize
hat they agreed with him:
Yet he had developed his arguments
"A logically that, when he reached hi
Startling conclusion 1t appeared to b'
tbe only conclusion that could have beer
The sneaker was James Brown Scott
famous international lawyer, and Presi-
Jsnt wilson's legal adviser at the peace
conference. Alba i. Johnson, in in
Producing him. said: when L asked
tbe sneaker what l should say about
him he told me, Simply say that ! am
a graduate Of the Central High School.
NJ this city, and that ] am still loyal
10 my alma mater.
Mr.. Scott told Of the early passion
ate demands on the part of some of the
Allies for the trial and punishment of
,be kaiser and Of how the American
commission consistently opposed them,
on the grounds that there was no legal
warrant for such proceedings, and how
Japan Joined Aerica on tina simple
stand that no sovereign of a nation
'At present." said Mr.. Scott, 'such
n person is EXEMPT under international
law, the law made by or consented
70 by all nations. He is immune from
suit in any court, national or interna-
tional.
WAS It crime to declare war at
tbe time the German Government de.
cared it and was it a crime for which
the law of nations imposed penalty
10 break the treaties of 1880 and 1867?
1T was not, in point of law, al
though in the forum of morals it as
surcdly was.
In view Of this state of affairs,
could the kaiser be tried for the com-
mission of crime, or can he be tried
at all?"
Feeling Now Forgotten
Asked about how the feeling" ran
with regard to the proposed trial, he
taid:
Feeling ran about as high as feeling
can run. This was especially so with
the British representatives and the
French members. In fact, the feeling
was SO high that relations were some
what suspended. | imagine, however,
that this feeling is now over. because.
last summer, when l was in Europe.
met some of the gentlemen whom had
met then. and they appeared to be glad
to see me. Apparently they had for
gotten all about it, and when | venturcd
70 suggest the kaiser. they laughed and
taid. 'Oh, well; that's all past.
What amount of real sincerity was
beck OF these demands for the kaiser
delivery?
Lloyd George was evidently IN
earnest because, in December, 1919,
be went before his country on the cry
Of Hang the kaiser and make Germany
pay, tor tho war Clemeuceau appeared
extremely.
Beyond these two powers, there was
.ttIe real desire to sec the kaiser tried
imly was lukewarm, but unwilling 10 |
associate herself from her allies. japan
positively refused to be party TO it, I,
cna rcpudiate1 any law by which a |
sovereign could be tried.
Inc nitcd States stood like a rock |
against the trial of the kaiser for a .
criminal offcnSe.
AT the end, I think it was simply
fn attempt 70 get out Of an cmbarrass. |
,nS situation By Ito quote Washing
ION phraSe) passing the buck to Ioi-
,and--and thcr" the buck appears I.
he at present"
Lansing Proposal was Dropped
IN answer 10 a question about n pro-
posal made by Lansing to bring the
haIScd to trial, Mr.. Scott read the orig
ina! resolution, which showed that tho
secretary Of state had very elouuently
advocated holding the kaiser up t. the
'oht"mpt and sCOrn of future genera
.ons by declaring him guilty of all the
untold waste and suffering caused by
This was submitted by Lansing to n
lui' meeting he said, "aud was re-
cgNeI Nith certain amount of good
fWNL' put when it was understood that
-. " ''hl!N u'Ollc ana would not be
accompanied by spectacular trial for
a criminal offcnsn, the commission lost
oil interest and would have none Of il
trial was what they wanted and they
"oIId not be satisfied with less.
Wo other propositions were pre.
rt5gg!!ru oy American members, each pro-
.Iulhg Tor a commission Of inquiry to
meet examine the evidence, reach n
judgment and TO present this 10 the
world az large in order that it should be
.S'ed by public opinion. but as this.
mhso, dld not involve Il trial, it shared
'ne late OF the Lansing resolution,
Wilson Opposed Trial
Asked II President Wilson expressed
nus views as to any form Of punishmcnt
'or NE Kaiser, Mr.. Scott answered:
NY understanding was that Prcsl-
IEent Wilson regarded the trial of tbe
aalS"r lcr any criminal Offcnse ms en-
onS'y out OF place and unjustifiable
una refused to be party to IT, Re
couSe of his refusal, the supreme coun.
no reJert"d the majority report and.
vs., compromise, agreed on one mr..
,o,S the kaiser (if the Allies
Lo LLouIq g"t Their claws on himl should
,,@Nu,LalgMed for political offcnsp.
\, Sr' wilson was not really in favor
~ ~ t"at but he thought it was the mos
n"ni r"ut could be permitted and that tha
punishment would not be criminal bo
'"4Se the charge was political one"
'RAIDING PARSON' IMPROVES