The Washington times., 1921-01-03
KA|SER'SWAR
+. PREMIER DIES
iollweg, ex-German Chancellor,
Wanted Allies to Try Him as
WiIheIm's Substitute.

BERLIN, Jan. 3.-Dr. Theobald
Won Bethmann-Hollweg, former Ger
man simperial high chancellor, died
Saturday night after a brief illness
on his estate at Hohenfinow, near
Berlin.
HAD ACUTE PNEUMONIA.
DIR. yon Bethmann- Hollwey was APP
parently in good health until Wednes-
day. lie 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 for
mer chancellor had already become
unconscious and never regained con-
seriousness. dying late Saturday night
His wife died in 1914 and he lost
ais eldest son In the war. He Is sur
vived by "A daughter. Countess Zech.
wife OF the secretary OF the Prussian
legation at Munich, and son. Felix,
student at Berlin.
VISITED BERLIN IN NOVEMBER.
On the last OF his frequent visits to
Berlin. In mid-Noyember, DR.. Won
Bethmann- Hollweg was seen walking
in Observation-Disclosures. but the once
stalwart figure was no longer up
right; few pedestrians recognized in
the stopped. figure and careworn face
the former imperial chancellor.
Won Bethmann- Hollweg recently
concluded the revision of the final
proofs OF the second volume OF his
war diary. which is announced for
OPPOSED SUBMARINE WARFARE.
Among the latest prominent activi-
ties Or. Won Bethmann-Hollweg in
International AFFAIRS and German ma
tional life was his testimony in 1919 as a
witness before the National Assembly
committees Investigating responsible
ity for the war. His testimony
brought out that he had originally
opposed the submarine warfare and
had issued warnings not to underesti
mate Americas strength in the con-
fiict
One OF the most famous utterances
during the war was that concerning
"a scrap OF paper" as regarded the
treaty. guaranteeing the neutrality OF
Belgium. This treaty was so charac-
terized by Won Bethmann Hollweg
during an interview which the then
chancellor had with Sir Edward
Goschen. the British ambassador to
Germany. Speaking with great irrita-
ton. the chancellor expressed his in
ability to understand Great Britain's
attitude with regard to Germany's at
tack on Belgium.
DR.. Won Bethmann-H ollweg was
chancellor OF Germany from July II,
1909. to July Il, 1917. He was sue
ceeded in the office by DR.. George
Michaelis. an appointee OF the former
Kaiser. 1t was said that Won Beth
mann Hollweg was forced out of Of
flee through the efforts. OF the mill
tarists. headed by Hindenburg and
Ludendorff, largely because OF his
scrap Of paper statement and his
admission that the German invasion
OF Belgium was unjust. The former
chancellor had on several occasions
issued statements blaming the mill
tarists for the war, these appearing
in 1916 and 1917, while in the two
years previous he had frequently de-
clared that England alone was re-
sponsiblc.
OFFERED SELF FOR KAISER.
DR.. Won Bethmann- Hollweg received
prominent attention throughout the
| world in June, 1919, when ne formal
powers to place him on trial instead
of the Kaiser. The supreme council
decided to ignore his request. He
was often mentioned as among those
who might be tried by the allies for
political offenses in connection with
the origin of the war.
His national activities before 1914
were marked by his strong opposition
to characterization of Germany. At
times he was sharply outspoken in
his defiance of socialism and ne re-
jected any move to make himself and
the other German ministers respon-
sible to the Reichstag. In the early
stages of the war, however, he be-
came known as a Moderate.
SUCCEEDED Won BUELOw.
DIR. Won Bethmann-H ollweg was
born in 1856, the son OF Matthias A.
Bethmann-Hollweg, professor of civil
law at Bonn and a grandson of n
member of the Jewish banking fam
| lily of Won Bethmann of Frankfort
He was educated at the Pforta gym
nasium, and at the Universities OF
StrasburG, Leipsic and Berlin.
Entering the Prussian administra-
tive service in 1882, he rose to the
position of President of the province
Of Brandenburg in 1899. In 1908 he
was appointed Prussian minister of
the interior, and two years later be
came imperial president OF the in
terror and vice president of the Prussian
ministry of state, of which the chan
cellor was president. He succeeded
Prince Won Buelow when he became
! imperial chancellor in 1909.
Following his retirement from Of
| flee DR.. Won Bethmann-Hollweg took
up his residence at Hohepfinow, the
estate near Eberswalde, twenty-seven
miles north of Berlin, where his death
occurred.