Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1921-01-03
FORMER GERMAN Chancellor
BETHMANN HOLLWEG IS DEAD
Originator of the Famous Reference to Treaty With Belgium
as "Scrap of Paper"-Had Asked the Allied and As
sociated Powers to Place Him on Trial Instead of the
Former Kaiser-Was Forced Out of Office by Mlitarsts
Headed by Hindenburg and Ludendorf.

Berlin, Jan. 2.-Dr. Theobald Won
Bethmann-Hollweg. former German i'm
perial chancellor. died last night after
brief Illness on his estate at Hohenfinow,
near Berlin.
DR.. Won Bethmann-Hollweg was appar-
emily in good health until Wednesday. He
spent Christmas as usual with his fam
lily, but contracted cold which develc q i
into acute pneumonia His condition be-
came steadily worse and his private ply
sician was summoned from Berlin but the
former chancellor had already become un-
conscious and never regained conscious
ness. dying late Saturday night.
His wife died in 1914 and he lost his
eldest son In the war. He is survived by
a daughter. Countess Zech, wife Of the
secretary OF the Prussian legation at
Munich, and son. Felix, a student at
Berlin.
On the last of his frequent visits to
fBerlin, ia mid-November. DR.. Won Beth
mann-HoIlweg was seen walking in Unter
Den Linden. but the once stalwart figure
was no longer upright Few pedestrians
| recognized in the stopped figure and care
worn face the former imperial chancellor.
| Won Bet1mann-Hollweg recently con-
cluded the revision Of the final proofs of
the second volume Of his war diary,
which is announced for early publication.
Among the latest prominent activities
Of DR.. Won Bethmann- -Hollweg in interna-
tional affairs and German national life
Hwas his testimony in 1918 as witness
before national assembly committees in
lvestlgating 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
fiict.
1 One Of the most famous utterances dur.
ing the war was that concerning "a scraI
Of paper as regarded the treaty guaran
teeing the neutrality Of Belgium. Thii
treaty was SO characterized by VoI
Bethmann-H -Hollwes during an interview
which the then chancellor had with ST
Edward Goschen. the British ambassador
to Germany. Speaking with great irrila
ton. the chancellor expressed his inabil
! lily to understand Great Britain's attitud
with regard ito Germany's attack on Bel
} gium-
u found the chancellor very unch agi
, tated" said Sir Edward afterwards. writ
ing Of the interview. His exceliency n
once began a harangue which laste
: about twenty minutes. He said the>Ete
taken. by his majesty's government wa
; tefrible TO degree.- lust for wori-
'neutraiity'-a word which IN war ~
7 had SO often been disregarded-Just for
scrap OF raper-Great Britain was goin
) to make war on Kindred nation. whic
I desired nothing more than to be friend
with her" !
Sir Edward replied IN effect that he ur
iderstood the chancelior's inability 70 CON
z prehend the British action. but that Gres
Britain attached importance 70 the 'scra
o Of paper" because It bore her signatur
= as we'll as that OF Germany.
]. "Our troops have occupied Duxembour
a and perhaps have also found It necessar
a 10 enter Belgium territory" he said o
y Aug. 4. 1914. That IS contrary to intei
! national law. We know. however. IN:
France was ready to invade Belgium
!, France could wait: we could not &
= France could invade our slower Rhir