Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 153, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 July 1919 — HOLLWEG ASKS TRIAL IN PLACE OF KAISER. [ARTICLE]

HOLLWEG ASKS TRIAL IN PLACE OF KAISER.

Berlin, June 28.—'Delayed.—Dr. I Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg, former German chancellor, has formally asked the allied and associated powers to place him on trial instead of the former emperor. The former chancellor says that he assumes responsibility for the acts <>f Germany during his period of office and places himself at the disposal of the allies. The request of the former chancellor was made on June 25 in a communication to Premier Clemenceau, president of the conference. Dr. von Bethmann-Hollwegg, it is said, desired to take this step on May 20, but refrained aft that time on the expressed wish the Ger-' man government. The communication asks Premier Clemenceau to bring the following document to the' knowledge of the allied and associated powers: “In article 227 of the peace terms the allied and associated powers publicly arraign his majesty William 11. of Hohenzollern, former German emperor, for a supreme offense against international morality and the sanctity of treaties. At the same time they announced their resolve to address a request to the government of the Netherlands for the surrender of the former emperor, for the purpose of trial. “With reference thereto I take the liberty of addressing a request to the powers to let the projected proceedings against (his majesty, the emperor, be taken against me. For this object I hereby place myself at the disposal of the allied and associated powers. “As former German imperial chancelor, I bear for my period of office, sole responsibility, as regulated tn the German constitotionv for -the political acts of the emperor. I believe I may deduce therefrom the claim that the reckoning which the allied and associated powers desire to demand for these acts shall be demanded solely of me. “Being convinced that the allied and associated powers will not deny international respect to thp legal position fixed by public constitutional law, I may express the hope that they will be inclined to yield to my urgent request. VON BETHMANN-HOLLWEG, “Hohenfinow, June 25.”