EX-KAISER'S TRIAL

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 19, 22 January 1921, Page 2

EX-KAISER'S TRIAL

MR. LLOYD GEORGE EXPLAINS

POSITION'OF THE ALLIES.

The. following letters passed recently between the Prime Minister and Mr. A. Baldwin Raper, M.P. for Ea& Islington, with reference to the trial of the ex-Ka-iser :—Mr. Rap.gr wrote : ■'!

Dear Mr. Lloyd George,—l ani frequently being tackled by my constituents; regarding the promise , made on your authority at the last election: to the effect that the Kaiser should be brought to justice. I thoroughly appreciate the many difficulties associated with this undertaking, but,, in view of the definite pledge which was given, I shall esteem it a great favour if you will be good enough' to let me have your valued reply 'to the point raised for me to submit, to my constituents.—Youra sincerely. ■' '

To this the Prime Minister replied :; . . . . You will remember that the exKaiser had, in November, 1918, sought refuge in Holland, but how far his resi-' dence there was likely to be temporary or permanent was unknown when our General Election was held in December. With the support qf our Allies, I secured the insertion, of article 227 in the Treaty of Vei-eailles. I give that Article in full to save you trouble of referonce to it : i *

"Artdclo 227.—rThp Allied and Associated Powers publicly arraign William 11. of Hohenzollern, formerly German Emperor, for a supreme offence against in- | temational morality' and the sanctity of treaties. A special tribunal will be constituted to try the accused, thereby assuring him the guarantee essential t^ the right of defence. It will be composed; ol five judges, one appointed by each of the following Power?, namely, the United States jof. Ameiicp,; Great N Britaio, France, Italy, and Japan. In its decision 4<he tribunal . will' be guided by t>he7 highest mptiyes of international policy with a view *Q vindicating . the solemn obHgatipns of intorna.ti(>na] undertakings and the validity of internatiojial morality.' It wjll be.fts d-uty to fix the purashiment which it considers should be imposed.. The. Allied and Associated Powers,will address a request to the Government of the Netherlands for the surrender to the-m of the ex-Emperor, *in order that he may-be put on trial." Tlie ratification of the Treaty, for reasons which you will recall, was delayed! .until. 10th January, 1920. The first step was. tq^ procure the surrender.of the ex-Kaiser-by the Government of the Netherlands, Accordingly, on 15th January, 1920, a Note wa3 presented to fjha Notherl'andps Go.vei'nmenfc oii behalf of the Allies,, in which a request was mad© for the surrender of the' ex-Kaisei\ This Note emphasised the .fact that tho demand was made iii.the name and on behalf of all tiie Allies, twenty-six in number. To that request the Government of Hie Netherlands replied on 21st January, 1920, refusing tlie'surrender of the exKaiser, and insisting upon" their right and duty to-give hitn asylum in accordajice wiib their national and domestia laws. Tho Allies-made a; further demand in reply, dated, 14th February, the text of which you will find published' in the London Press of 17th Februa,Ty. t In it the Allies-urged the Netherlands Government to regard this request made to wiem, not. merelj fro?n their own national, but also from* an. international point-of viow, and'"urg^d' -upon the Datcli Government in t)he most solemn and _pressing manner tl)e impoj-.tance attaching to a fresh consideration- of thei question put before heT." "' •• The response from' the Netherlands Government to this Note was, dated sth March, and they, adhered to. the attitude they had,adopted in giving asylum to the ex-K#iser. On 29tb March the interchange of this series of Notes i was closed by a filial despatch from the Allies. In vie.v of the attitude thus taken ijp imd adhered to by the Netherlands Government the surrender of the exKaiser by diplomatic means could not be secure.d. You will agree that it. was not contemplated in the promise given at the time of the electicn that we sliould proceed to the extremity of a war with HolianjJ in order, to enforce the demand of the Allies for ),hje surrender of the' ex-ICaiser, and as the joint , request and protest of all the Allies to '""\k& N»tlierlands Government did not avail to secure the desired end,- the ex-Kaiser remains in Holland. It has. proved impossible to'complete the promise you refer to. .No useful purpose would be served by "a trial "in contiimaciani''—thgt is, without the person incriminated being' present and without the possibility of carrying into effect the punishpent awarded upon his arraignment if he were found guilty. , , , Thfl responsibility no#- vests with the Netherlands Government for his permanent safe cuttody, and perhaps the reflection has occurred, to you, ss it has to many, tltat if•-the "exrKaiser had been found guilty by the Court upon his arraignment before them, no greater or more end-iring punishment would or could hay« b.esn imposed than the action above recorded has .-secured.