The New York herald., 1922-09-03

Special Correspondence 10 THE NEW YORK
HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Berlin. Sept. =.
One of the editors of the German
Archives publication, Professor john
Lepsius the well-known historian, IS
writing a series of studies of political
situations Of the last fifty years re-
yealed by the secret files OF the VIII
helmstrasse for THE New YORK HER
AID. This number contains a study OF
the first flights of William ii. into in
ternational politics.
The importance and scope of these
publications Of the German arcnlves
is indicated by the fact that they IN
volye a reading OF some 4O,0oo vol
umes, and the printing of twenty vol
umes of documents covering the period
of 1871 to the late war.
The correspondent of THE NEW
York HERALD has seen several OF these
volumes, piles OF yellow letters ana
reports sewn together in half cloth
- covers. There need be no doubt about
the authenticity of the letters pub
lished because THE NEW York HERALD
was permitted to make a selection Tor
reproduction.
One document is an important one
for several reasons. It disclosed dill
ference Of opinion between Bismarck
and William which took so vigorous a
form that the document was especially
closed with a Dig black seal bearing the
Prussian eagle. Even succeeding fSecre-
taries of Foreign Affairs did not Kno"
what the envelope contained Sucn was
the fate of the exchange OF views pc
tween Salisbury and Bismarck whicn
might have led to an Anglo-German al
lance, and other negotiations wnlcn
might have led to a Russo-Ge1man ahi-
ance had Bislnarck's followers known
what had preceded.
One of editors of the documents WHICH
are appearing in book form at the rate
Of five a year. is Prof. John Lepsius,
an expert on Eastern affairs who mas
defended the cause of the Armenians
against a hostile Germany. Another is
Mendelssohn Bartholdy, grandson OF the
famous composer and professor at the
universities OF Wuerzburg and HAM
burg, an authority on contemporary
history The third is DIR. Friedricn
Thimme keeper OF the records OF tne
Prussian House of Lords.
Dr. Lepsius explained the nature ana
scope OF the present important publica-
tions.
Reason for Publication.
The decision to publish these docu-
ments was made during the early days
of the revolution, when the SOCIALIST
Kautsky was entrusted with the task
OF publishing documents dealing with
the period Immediately preceding the
war; l. e., from the assassination OF the
Austrian Crown Prince up to the bth
OF August 1918. His revelations ap-
peared in four volumes in November
1919. In August 1919. however. Pro-
fessor Mendelssohn-B -Bartholdy was en-
trusted with the task or writing a fuller
account of the history preceding the
war.
The German Government doubted
whether it was advisable to allow the
Eautsky account OF the shorter period
TO precede the ftal1er account, because
apart from the obvious historical din
eulties in such statement Of the causes
OF the war, the Entente refused TO make
the basis of their verdict as to who was
guilty Of the war depend on documents
over so short a period. The German
Government, however, decided to issue
the documents.
Although the original publication was
70 20 back no further than the Bosnian
crisis, II soon became clear that the
work was too much for one man. The
Government therefore called In DR..
Thimme and Dr. Lepsius with stan OF
assistants. 1t also was evident that II
would be necessary to 60 much further
Lack than originally intended. Every
historian will agree that the causes OF
the war date back to 1871 and should In
clude the main diplomatic events which
followed, such as the Berlin Congress
OF 1873, the occupation OF Egypt by
England in 1882, and subsequently, the
formation Of the Triple Alliance and
then of the Triple Entente. This in
yolved the examination OF nc less than
10000 volumes
What assurance Is there that the doc
uments which now appear arc not
biased selection or composed OF frag-
ments OF original texts? Much assur-
ance OF their accuracy is given by the
high personal and scholastic standing OF
the editors themselves. Tney are not
propagandists In political parties. They
had access to all parts of the archives.
end state that they were under nc pres
sure to spare this or that person or to
cover over some particular incident. At
flrst some of the older diplomats in the
Foreign Office would have welcomed
censorship, but the editors refused to
continue research if one was exercised.
Professor Lcpsius states that tney are
not supprcssing documents which might
throw impersonable light upon German
past polity. They must however, make
q selection.
Out of 10000 volumes the editors in
many cases could only use ono or two
from a volume. This involved dis
elimination which gives them wide
latitude. Their method OF handling tho
documents. however. Is reassurinr. In
stead of running them chronologically
and scattered they have so grouped them
that each historical incident is covered
with continuity by the documents con-
cerning II. BY this method important
supprcssions would show gaps.
THE POLITICAL BEGINNINGS or
WILLIAM II.
ny PRo. JOHANNES LEPsIus.
Whcn william III. made his entry on