The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-29
WAR |S BLAMED IN IRON CHANCELLOR
Rival Groupings Also Held Responsible By Speakers
 In Cleveland


 COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 2s.-Two theories of the cause of the World war were advanced tonight at g meeting of delegates to the conven- tion of the American Historical as- sociation. The policies of Bismark were blamed as accountable for the disaster by Prof. Joseph V. Fuller of the University of Wisconsin, while the existence of the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente were held as causes of the war by Professor Bern adotte E. Schmitt of Western Reserve university.
 Tt is clear that the schism of Europe in two rival camps, armed to the teeth rather than the bellicosity of this, that or the other power, was the cause" Professor Schmitt asserted. The iron chancellor must be held Fundamentally accountable for the whole course and outcome of Germany's foreign policy. It was he who created for his country en- tangiements, delemmas and com priSing settlements, which betrayed it to disaster,' said Professor Fuller.
 Bismarck's foreign policies after 1871 were based on two questionable premises-that France was irrecon- cilable after defeat and that Germany was a, saturated state (no interests beyond these already satisfied be- yond that date), Professor Fuller contended. Starting from these premises he strove to adjust Ger many's relations with other powers in such a way as to prevent estab- lishment hostile coalition. He found the other powers hard to handle. He was forced to choose be- tween Russia and Austria, backing the latter and helping her to ob- tain Bosnia and Herzegovina thus creating another issue, which direct ly brought on the war of 1914"
 Weakest Stone.
 "Thc premise of the saturated state proved the weakest stone in Bismarck's diplomatic foundation. The theory was falsifed by Germans S economic development, impelling he. into world politics. and the problem of her relations with Great Britain bacame acute. Bismarck's colonial activities sought to rally all the con- tinental states against Great Britian, but the chancellor could not continue cooperation with France and Rus sia," he said.
 Besides the existence of two op- posing alliancess Professor Schmitt mentioned as another disturbing factor of world peace the attitude of Great Britian. 'England came to terms with France in 1904 only after repeated efforts to make an alliance with Germany. These Anglo-French relations became steadily more in- innate as a result of German pres- sure on France during the Morocco disputes, until a virtual alliance existed. England refused to sacri- flee the entente as the price of an un- derstanding with Germany, though Sir Edward Gray worked for a genu- inc concert of Europe to make pos- sible in turn limitation of arma- ments and the. inter-relation of al- dances became hopelessly intricate. Thus, on the eve of the tragedy of Serajevo, the two diplomatic groups stood face to face. The soldiers brushed the diplomats aside and precipitated war in a panicky fear of losing some military advantage" he said.
 Former President Woodrow Wilson was elected President of the asso- citation this afternoon. Charles M. Andrews of Yale, was elevated to the first vice presidency, the office for merly being held by MT. Wilson.