WAR GUILT.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19111, 21 September 1927, Page 9

WAR GUILT.

PRESIDENT HINDENBURG'S SPEECH. MOTIVES DISCUSSED. (BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COFXBIUHT.) ("the times.") (Received September 20tli, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 19. The correspondent of "The Times" in Berlin says that though President Hindenburg's war guilt declaration was largely the result of Rationalist pressure iu the absence of Dr. Stresemann, it is explained that President Hindenburg, as usual, punctiliously observed constitutional procedure. He certainly informed the authorities of his intended statements, which it is therefore assumed had the Government's approval. There is a theory current that the whole Cabinet supported the plan to appease the incessant demands of the Nationalists. "Taglische Eundscliau" suggests that the ceremony at Tannenburg afforded the Government an opportunity-to free Germany from the charge of responsibility for the war, for which she had been long waiting. "Tageblatt" agrees with the President's repudiation of the charge of sole responsibility, but does not accept his assertion that Germany was guiltless. "The German people were guiltless," says the paper, "because they went into the .field in defence of their homes, but the controllers of German policy cannot be acquitted." [ln unveiling a'memorial on the site of the Battle of Tannenburg, President Hindenburg said: '"On this spot I solemnly repudiate German responsibility Sot the Great, War. Neither envy nor hate nor lust drove us to unsheathe the sword, but preservation of our existence from a host of engmies. We entered the war with pure hearts and waged it with clean hands."]