New-York tribune., 1921-12-19
Kaiser Defends
Acts lin Letter
ToHindenbllre
publication of Correspond
euce Believed Feature of
His Plan to Return to
Germany for Residence
Junker Press Applauds
aWill Have Great Moral Ef-
feet Throughout World,''
One Newspaper Asserts
BY Joseph Shaplen
81 wireless to the TribNnc

fonyrght 1921. New York Tribune Inc
BERLIN, Dec. 1s.-The conservative
,ssss to-day prints Il letter from Field
Marshal ven Hin6enburg and reply
eran, ey-KaiSer Wilhelm, in which the
former monarch makes formal denial
Il his guilt in bringing on the war.
Publication of the correspondsnce is
regarded in Allied circles as part of a
eern,an campaign to obtain revision
Il she terms Of the Treaty of Yer
sales. In other quarters 1t is sug
sssted that the letter is designed to
prepare the ground for the war lord S
rs,urn to Germany. not to rule. bat to
isve or one Of his former estates.
The former monarch defends at
,sngth his course in fleeing to Holland.
The text of the two letters. both Of
wkieh were written last spring, was
esrefullv kept from the Republican and
Socialist press. Only Conservative
asuers were permitted TO use it. This,
spnarentiv. was intended to give the
mouarchist press d handicap in strlk-
no the initial blow in the propaganda
favorable to the Kaiser in so far as it's
intended effect on the minds of the
German people was concerned.
Letters Held Unimportant
In Soclaliss and Democratic circles,
hswever. no particular Importance is
attached 10 the publication of the
correspondence. They admit that those
narts Of the Kaiser's letters IN which
ie defends Germany against the charge
oi having uHleashed the war are
rouched in such terms as TO compel the
spnrobation of most Germans. On the
afber hand. they feel that the kalser's
statements must not be permitted to
nass unqualified if the monarchists.
who are still hoping to return to
rawer. are not to be the sole gamers by
.he Kaiser's declarations.
Won Hinderburg, who intended to
puhl;sh the correspondence months
$50. was urged to hold back for more
psychological moment, which the old
rsrimers apparently believe has come
with the growth OF difficulties for the
Wirth government at home and the
5eselopment Of a worldwide incllna-
Ion to revise some of the provisions
Of the Versailles Treaty. =
The "Deutsche AIlgemelne Ieltung
believes that "Hindenburg did the
Fstherland & distinct service" by
causing the publication Of the CORE
:pondence. saying that what Kaiser
Wilhelm says on the question OF guil'
in the war S altogether true ana con
Fiacing. and no one who believes IN
ruth dare dispute IT.
Saws Allies Fe>-ed Truth
Convincing also are his statements
an the Allied proposal to try him
rhe refusal OF the Entente powers to
accept mis- offer TO stand trial be
fore an impartial international trl-
bsral is strong evidence it feared
revelation of the whole truth
The "Lokal Anzeiger" also approves
strongly of the publication, as well as
the Kaiser's statements concerning the
suilf Of Germany, which will have {
neat moral effect throughout the
World This paper adds;
aThe declaration of the Emperor VII
ii least rob our foes of their negative
Arguments on Germany's guilt ant
'heir Justification OF the Treaty o.
Versailles
The "Kreuz -Zeitung" is greatly i'm
pressed with 1.-The deep, earnest. con
sincing tone employed by the Kaiser ir
discussing questions of guilt for the
war; and adds:
aHis letter should be regarded as &
historic document of the highest i'm
portance, which Germany's foes, as wei
as the neutral world, will be unable te
permit to pass without notice" The
paper concludes with an appeal to the
German people Ito stand behind theil
Kaiser in his defense of the Father
land as they stood behind him II
happier days in German history"