THE EX-KAISER CAN BE PUNISHED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12638, 24 May 1919, Page 11

THE EX-KAISER CAN BE PUNISHED.

The ex-Kaiser and bis friends tell ns that there is no precedent lor sending a European Sovereign before a tribunal to be judged for “ acts of State,” however abominable these may be. But there is a, precedent—and a fairly modern one too (writes Francis Gribble. , a former prisoner at Ruhleben). Has the Kaiser, one wonders, ever reflected on the close resemblance winch his case hears to that of King Joachim of Naples, better known as Murat, who met a violent death at the hands of a firing party I 1 Murat’s relations with Austria, in the last years of the Napoleonic wars, were very similar to the Kaiser’s relations with Belgium. Just as the Kaiser was pledged by treaty to respect .and defend Belgian neutrality, so Murat, in his capacity as King of Naples, was pledged by a treaty, signed in January, 1814, to live in peace with Austria, to fight as Austria’s ally, and to enter into no separate negotiations with Austria’s enemies. Just as the Kaiser tore up his treaty and attacked Belgium, so did the King of Naples tear up his treaty and attack Austria. Just as the war of 1914 ended unfortunately for the Kaiser, so did the war of 1815 end unfortunately for the King of Naples. And then? Well, the King of Naples, having gone, like the Kaiser, into exile, returned from it and found another King-tiie nominee of the Austrians, kept in his place by Austrian bayonets —on the throne, and that King gave him a very short shrift. There was no question of expelling or interning him, nor was his “ act of State” dignified by the name of conspiracy. or treason, or usurpation. 'He was pub on his trial contemptuously ag a “ disturber of the pence,” and for that offence he wan shot on the esplanade at Pizzo. It is a fairly close parallel—quite close enough, one would imagine, to keep the ex-Kaiser awake at nmht, if he is aware of it. He, Hire the King of Nimles. is a ” disturber of the peace ” ; ho, like the King of Naples broke » treaty in order to disturb the peace The rest 5s in the kr> of the god.*— or of the Pence Conference, which doubtless has this footnote to history before it. ,