The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-11-16
kAIsER's MEMOIRS CONSTITUTE
"coNFESSIoN OF GUILT"

The much discussed question of the
German Kaiser's share in the RESPONSE
billty for the world war has been set
| tied, as American editors see it, by no
| less an authority than the ex-kaiser
himself. His memoirs, written and in
tended as defense, if not altogether
as vindication, have been almost uni
versally interpreted by American COM
mentators as a confession of guilt. And
as a contribution to- history they fall
equally wide of the mark. Their value,
in the opinion of the press, lies chiefly
in the additional light they throw on
the mental makeup of the man him.
ers think, holds more interest for the
psychiatrist than for the world at
large.
'There has been criticism Of the mem
bers of the American press who gave
these so~called recollections to the peo-
pie of the United States the Cincin-
natl Enquirer recalls. Some even have
gone so far as to declare the publication
to be a piece of German propaganda.
Now that they have been read and di-
gested, it is altogether likely that these
critics will thank the publishers for rem
dering the world q great service. Because
no more damning evidence ever was pro-
duced against one arraigned for MS mis-
deeds than that given by the pen of Will
| liam OF HOhenzolIern against AlinSsA All
| justification of his errors"
In the writing of his memoirs he has,
| the Wheeling Intelligencer notes, made
tho most of his opportunity to justify
his own actions and those OF the Germany
he SO tyrannically ruled and the book,
the Columbus Dispatch adds, lis an ap-
peal for a reversal OF the Judgment al
ready rendered in the great court of
world opinion" although, the paper de-
clares, 1.-The answer to that appeal can
be nothing but an, overwhelming mega
tive
The book Corresponds to the privileged
statement of a condemned criminal be-
fore sentence is passed upon him,
practice of American Jurisprudence, the
ST. Louis Globe Democrat regards IT.
The ex-kaiser has made his statement.
1t has been presented to the world with
out the change of word. me sentence
NAV now be pronounced without the
slightest misgiving that it is either
wrong or excessive. For there is no
better evidence of the kaiser's quit than
the kaiser's memoirs Detnroneu'
exiled and disgraeed, rejected by his own
people and condemned by humanity ne
endeavors to show that he was d pooi'
weak creature, controlled by the chan-
cellors who alone had the power anu 'he
resuonsibility of government, VINO alone
were tc blame for whatever was wrong
or whatever failed, while still, with tnat
vanity which even now he cannot us
card. claiming to himself the credit lot
whatever was good and successful ~
doubtedly if Germany had won the war
the kaiser would have accepted an Tue
glory as his personal DUE put now ~ nc
shifts the onus of failure on MS minis
+ars and generals and on the German
neonIe who abandoned the army ana
him"
The Jackson (Mich.) News quotes Ga
hriel Hanotaux, HISTORIAN, academlclan
and former French minister OF loreish
affairs" as saying that there Is not
line or a chapter in the memoirs that
doesn't display absolute ignorance or loss
~ rnamorv" Indeed, the Binghamton
Press thinks, "if he could have reported
accurately some of the conversation ne
had with the strong men VINO Feahs ool
trolled the policies of the German EN-
pire. he might have made an interesting
and even valuable contribution 10 o"'
knowledge of recent history
If he could even have reported pre-
cisely what he saw and what ne alq on
various important occasions, ne ihishI
have shed light upon the dramatic as
pect of some of the great scenes IN Whlch
he took a conspicuous part BUT ne
does not do this, and 80 the chly thlns
which he could contribute to our kno"l-
edge of the world tragedy anu WHICH no
one else can supply is left unreported.
The result, the Philadelphia Record oo-
serves, is that mo writer ever produced
a mere worthless book. 1t sheds no light
on the history of great period except
so far as it illuminates Williams men
tai and moral dimensions"
1t is that illumination, however,
which the San Francisco Chronicle
takes up although admitting that from
that angle the memoirs are Interesting
chiefly to the alieniSt." But it is only