The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-03
WAR CHANCELLOR
 OF HUNS GOES ID
 FINAL ACCOUNTING
Bethmann-HollWeg Who Called An International Treaty "A Scrap of Paper," Dies on
 His Lands Near Berlin
By Associated Press


 Berlin, January 2.-Dr. Theo- bald von Bethmann-Hollweg, former German imperial chan cellor, died last night after a brief illness on his estate at Hohenfinnow, near Berlin.
 Among the latest prominent activities of pr. won Bethmann- Holweg in inter national affairs and German national life, was his testimony last year as witness before national assembly committee in vestigating responsibility for the war. His testimony brought out that he had originally opposed the submarine warfare and had issued warnings not to under estimate Americas strength in the con- flict. tE
 Troops have occupied Luxemburg and perhaps have also found it necessary to enter Belgian tsrrtory,. he said on August 4, 1914 That IS contrary to n- ternational law. We know, however, that France was ready to invade Bell gium. France would wait; we could not, as France could invade our lower Rhine flank, which would prove fatal.
 
 protests of the Luxemburg and Bell gium governments. We shall try to make good the injustice we have com mitted as soon as our military goal has been reached
 WAR CHANCELLOR
 Dr. von Bethmann-Hollweg was chan celor of Germany from July 14, 1909. to July 14, 1917. He was succeeded in the office by pr. George Mchaelis, an ap- pointee of the former Kaiser. It was said that von Bethmann-Hollweg was forced out of office through the efforts of the militarists, headed by Hindenburg and Ludendorff. largely because of his scrap of paper" statement and his ad mission that the German invasion of Bel gium was unjust The former chancellor had on several occasions issued state ments blaming the mlitarists for the war, these appearing in 1916 and 1917, while in the two years previous he had frequently declared that England alone. was responsible.
 Dr. von Hollweg received prominent attention throughout the world ir June, 1919, when he formally asked the allied and associated powers to place him on trial instead of the former 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 con- nection with the origin of the war.
 OPPOSED DEMOCRACY
 His national activities before 1914 were marked by his strong opposition to dem- ncratization Of Germany. At times he was sharply outspohen in his defiance Of socialism and he rejected any move to make himself and the other German min isters responsible to the Reichstag. In the early stages of the war, however. he became known as a moderate. Late in 1919 reports from Geneva said he was credited in diplomatic circles there as being at the bottom of a monarchist movement in favor of both the Hohen- zollerns and Hapsburgs, the nueclus of which was said to be forming in Switz- erland. On several occasions during his tenure of office Dr. von Bethmann-Holl veg threw out peace feelers, particularly in 1916 when he invited the allies to enter negotiations All of his overtures con- tained only the vaguest indications re- garding the German attitude on a peace settlement and they were rejected. It was following the failure of his peace ef- forts in December, 1916. that he endorsed unlimited submarine warfare.
 HIS RECORD
 Dr. von Bethmann-H -Hollweg was born in 1856, the son of Matthias A. von Beth mann -Hollweg, professor of civil law at Bonn. and a grandson of member of the Jewish banking family of von Beth mann of Frankfort. He was educated at the Pforta gymnasium, and at the Uni versailles of Strasburg Leipsic and Ber- in. Entering the Prussian adminstra- tive in 1882, he rose to the position of president of the province of Branden- burg in 1899. In 1905 he was appointed prussian minister of the interior and two years later became imperial secre- tary of the interior and vice president of the Prussan ministry of state, of which the chancellor was president. He succeeded Prince von Buelow when he became imperial chancellor in 1909.
 Following his retirement from office /, Dr von Bethmann-H took up his residence at Hohenfinnow, the estate near Fberswalde 2 miles north of Berlin.