The New York herald., 1921-01-03
CHANCELLOR WHO
MOCKED BELGIAN
NEUTRALITY DIES
DR.. Won Bethmann HOllWeg
of Scrap of Paper Fame
Succumbs Suddenly to
Pneumonia.
ILL ONLY FEW DAYS
Guided Kaiser's Policy in
Early Years of War and
Opposed Relentless T.
Boat Campaign.
FAVORED APPEASING q. s.
Forced to Yield to Militarists
Served Eight Years at
the Head of German
Government.
ILL ONLY FEW DAYS
FAVORED APPEASING q. s.

Government.
BERLIN. Jan. 2.-Dr. Theobald Won
Bethmann Hollweg, former German
Imperial Chancellor, who coined the
expression "a scrap Of paper" as ap-
piled to the treaty guaranteeing the
neutrality of Belgium, died last night
after a brief illness on his estate at
Hohenfinnow, near Berlin. Hewa ap-
parently in good health until Wednes-
day. He spent Christmas as usual
with his family, but contracted cold
which developed into acate pneunonia.
His condition became steadily verse
and ms private physician was sum-
moned from Berlin, hut thn former
Chancellor had ALREADY become uncon-
scious and never regained conscious
ness, oying late Saturday night He
will be buried on Wednesday.
His wife died in 1914, and he lost his
eldest son in the war. He is survived
by a daughter, Countess Zech, wife or
the secretary of the Prussian Legation
at Munich, and son Felix. student at
Berlin.
On the last Of his frequent visits to
Berlin. In mid November, DR.. Won Beth
mann Hollweg was seen walking In
Unter-den-Linden. but the once stalwart
figure was no longer upright. Few pc
destrians recognized in the stopped fg-
ure and careworn face the former I'M
perial Chancellor.
Won Bethmann Hollweg recently con-
cIuded the revision Of the final proofs OF
the second volume OF his war diary
which is announced for early publication
sketch. of His Career.
DR.. Won Bethlnann Hollweg, whose ex-
preston "a ccrap of paper" in reference
TO the violation of the neutrality OF Bel
gium won international attention ar
German concept of honor In regard
to its obligations. was Imperial German
| Chancellor for eight years, succeeding
| Prince Won Buiow July IA, 1909, and
holding office during the fateful years OF
the world war until he was forced out OF
power July IA. 1917. His retirement
upon the appointment of Dr.. George
| Michaalis removed the last of the states
men who were at the head of the govern
ments Of the great Powers at the out
break OF the war.
| As one Of the strong German Chan
cellors who held that the head of the civil
government was responsible only to the
Kaiser. DR.. Won Bethmann Hollweg be-
came known as moderate In the early
stages OF the war, and toward the end he
| took a middle position between the ex-
treme Junkers and the Socialists. II
has been accepted by many war histo-
| rians that his influence was usually
thrown against the breaking or OF rela-
tions with America and against ruthless
submarine warfare until he was forced
TO yield to the military leaders.
! In his memoirs, written in 1919. n,
says he sharply condemned the subma'
rine campaign. but that tho influence OF
Admiral Won Tlrplitz. Gen. Ludendorfi
and Field Marshal Won Hindenburg was
so strong that the German people fol-
lowed their Generals blindly. convinced
Of It's justification.
His Part in War Decision.
! II was the arrival OF war clouds or
the horizon following the assassination
Of an Austrian Grand Duke at Sarajevc
that brought upon Won Bethmann Holl
veg the responsibilities OF helping C
decide for war or peace and bearinl
, the burden Of tho conduct OF the war b,
/ the German nation.
Following 81 conference In July. 1919
ut Potsdam with the Kaiser. Won Beth
mann Hollweg issued the orders that Ice
TO war between Germany and France
and In celebrated interview with 81
Edward Goschen, the British Ambassa
dor. he expressed his chagrin at th'
British ultimatum that Britain woul'
take steps to uphold the neutrality o
Belgium. II was In this Interview tina
he protested against Britain's entranc'
| into the war Just for a scrap OF paper.
! In later interview with correspon
dent of the Associated Press the forme
( Chancellor declared this remark hat
I been misinterpreted.
"I found the Chancellor very mucl
I agitated," said Sir Edward Goschen
/ afterward writing OF the interview
| "Hls Excellency at once began ha
rangue which lasted about twenty min
| utes He said the step taken by. Hi
(Britlsh) Majesty's Government was ter
rible to a degree. Just for a word
'neutraiity'---a word which In war tim
had 80 often been disregarded--Just 70
n scrap OF paper'-Great Britain wa
going TO make war on Kindred nation
| which desired nothing more than to b.
| friends with her"
! sir Edward replied in effect that HI
understood the Chancellor's inability &c
comprehend the British action. but tha
4 Great Britain attached Importance to th'
scrap Of paper" because IT bore hei
I signature as welt as that OF Germany
"Our troops have occupied buxem
burg and perhaps have also found 4
necessary to enter Belgian territory.
said Won Bethmann-Holweg on Angus
4, 1914. THAT is contrary to interna