Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1921-01-03
FATAL ILLNESS
IS PNE UMON|A,
ACUTE ATTACK
Former Advisor to Will
helm Stricken Suddenly
at His Country Estate.
He Recently Concluded
Revision Of War Diary
Broken in Spirit, Said.

Berlin, Jan. DIR. Theobald
Won Bethman-Hollweg, former
German imperial chancellor, died
Saturday night after a brief i'll
ness on his estate at Hohen-
finow near Berlin.
DIR. von Bcthmann- Hollweg was ap-
parently in good health until Wednes-
day. He spent Christmas as usual with
his family, but contracted Il. cold which
developed into acute pneumonia. His
condition became steadily worse and his
private physician was summoned from
Berlin. but the former chancellor had
already become unconscious and never
Tegained consciousness. dying late Satur-
day night
Lost One Son in War.
His wife died in 1914, and he lost his
eldest son in the war. He is survived by
daughter. Countess Tech. wife of the
eecretary of the Prussian legation at
Munich, and a son Felix, student at
Berlin.
O.. the last of his frequent visits to
Berlin. in mid November, DR. Won Beth
mann Hollweg was seen walking in In
Ter de Linden. but the once stalwart fig.
ure was no longer upright. and few pc
destrians recognized in the stopped fig
ure and careworn face the former i'm
perfal chancellor.
Won Bethmann- -HoIiweg recently con-
cluded the revision of the final proofs
for the second volume of his war diary
which is announced for early publication.
Opposed U-Boat Warfare.
One of the most prominent activities
&c nr vo,, IJcIlna1 in ipta
national affairs and German national lie,
was his testimony in 1919 as q witness
before the national assembly committees
investigating responsibility for the war.
His testimony brought out that he had
originally opposed the submarine warfare
and had issued warnings not to underes-
innate Americas s 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 of Belgium
This treaty was 50 characterized by Won
Bethmann- Holweg 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 inabll-
ity to understand Great Bfitain's attitude
with regard to Germany's attack on Bel
GUM.
"Scrap of Papar."
"I found the chancellor very much agi
tated." said Sir Edward afterward, writ
ing Of the interview. His excellency at
once began a harangue which lasted
about 90 minutes He said the step TAX
en- by his majesty's government was ter
rible to a degree. Just for word
'neutrality'--a word which in war times
had so often been disrega egarded-just for
"a scrap Of paper'-Great Britain was
going TO make war on kindred nation,
which desired nothing more than to be
friends with her"
Sir Edward replied in effect that he
understood the chancellor's inability to
comprehend the British action, but that
Great Britain attached Importance to the
"scrap of paper" because it bore her sig
nature as well as that Of Germany.
"Our troops have occupied Luxem-
bourg and perhaps have also found II
recessary to enter Belgian territory.
lie said. on August 4. 1914 ''That~is
contrary to international law. We know,
however, that France was ready TO IN
wade Belgium. France could wait; we
could not, as France could invade our
lower Rhine flank, which would prove
fatal.
$50 we were forced to disregard the
protests of the Luxembourg and Belgian
CONTINUED on Page six)