Evening journal., 1921-01-03
Won HOLLWEG IS
DEATH VICTIM
Opposed Submarine Cam
paign, Refused to Justify
Invasion of Belgium
OFFERED SELF
FOR KAISER

BERLIN. Jan. 3.-Dr. Thcobald Won |
Bethmann-Hollweg. former German /
Imperial High Chancellor, is dead /
after a brief illness. at his estate at
Hohentlnow, near Berlin.
Among the latest prominent activi- |
ties OF Or. Won Bethmann-iollweg In |
International affairs and German ma
tional life was his testimony last year
as a witness before National Assem- I
bly, committees investigating respon- !
sibility for the war. His testimony
brought out that he had originally
opposed the submarine warfare and
had issued warnings not to underes-
Innate Americas strength In the con-
fici.
Dr. Won Bethmann-liollweg was the
originator OF the famous reference TO
the treaty guaranteeing the neutrality
OF Belgium as scrap Of paper The
reference was made in a statement
before the Reichstag. In August, 1914
when he gave the German viewpoint
Of What causes led TO the war. lie
frankly admitted In this same speech.
that Germany's action In invading
Belgium had beea morally and legally
wrong he justified il only on The
grounds OF military necessity
"Our troops have occupied LuNcm-
bourg and perhaps have also found
Il necessary to enter Belgian terri
tory" he said on August 4. 1914. That
is contrary 90 international law. We
know, however, that France was
rSdy 10 invade Belgium. France
could wait: We could not. as France
could invade our lower Rhine flank,
which would prove fatal.
so We were forced to disregard
tie protests Of the Luxembourg and
Belgium governments. We shall try
10 make good the injustice We have
committed as soon as our military
goal has been reached
Dr. Won Bethmann-HOllweg was
chancellor If Germany from July "a,
1909, 20 July a., 1911 He was sue
cceded in tne Ofllce by Dr. George
Michaelis. an appointee Of the former
Kaiser. II WIS said that Won Beth
mann-HOllweg was forced out or office
through the efforts Of the militarlsts,
headed by Hindenburg and Luden-
dOrff, largely because OF his scrap
OF paper" statement and his admis-
sion that the German invasion or
Belgium was unjust The former
Chancellor had on several occasions
issued statements blaming the mill
tarisis for the war. these appearing
in 1916 and 1911 while in the two
years previous he had frequently de-
clared that England alone was re-
spOnsiblc.
nr. Won Bethmann-Hollweg received
prominent attention throughout the
world In June, 1919, when he for
mally asked the Allied and associated
powers TO place him on trial instead
Of the Kaiser. The Supreme Council
decided to ignore his request He was
often mentioned as among those who
might be tried by the Allies for po-
liilcal offenses in connection with the
orizn OF the war
His national activities before 1914
were marked by his strong opposition
20 democratization Of Germany. Al
times ne was sharply outspoken In
his defiance Of socialism and he re-
iected any move 10 make himself and
Inc other German ministers RESPONSE
bic TO the Reichstag. In the early
stages OF the war. however, ne be
came known as a Moderate.
Late in 1919, reports from Genev'
said he was accredited in diplomatic
circles there as being az the bottom
OF a monarchist movement In favOl
OF both the Hohenzollerns and Haps
burrs. the nucelus OF which was saiC
TO be forming in Switzerland. ON sew
cral occasions during his tenure o
office Dr. Won Bethmann-H0llWei
threw out peace feelers, particularly
In 1916 when he invited the Allies u
enter negotiations. All OF his over
lures contained only the vaguest in
dicatlnns regarding the German atti
tude on a peace settlement and the,
were Rejected. 10 was following IN
failure Of his peace efforts in Decem
her. 1916, that he indorsed unlimltei
submarine warfare.
Dr. Won Bethmann-Hollweg wa
horn in 1886, the son OF Matthias
-Hollweg, professor OF civi
law az Bonn and grandson or
member Of the Jewish banking famil
NJ Won Bethmann OF Frankfort. II
was educated at the pforta gymna
sum. and at the Universities O
Strasburg, Leipsic and Berlin.
Entering the prussian administra
tive service In 1882, he rose 10 the po
sitiOn OF president OF the province O
Brandenburg. in 1899. In 1908 he wa
appointed prussian minister OF the In
terror and two years later became i'm
perial secretary Of the Interior an
Vice-prcsident OF the prussian Mini,
try OF state. Of which the Chancello
was president Tie succeeded Prime
Won BuelOW when he became I'm
perial Chancellor in 1909.
Following his retirement from oillc
Dr. Won Bethmann-HOllweg took u
his residence al HohennnOw. The e.,
tate near Eherswalde. q miles nOrt
OF Berlin, where his death occurred