FOLLOWERS OF THE KAISER

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2330, 11 December 1914, Page 7

FOLLOWERS OF THE KAISER

One of the first principles in science is to ascertain all the facts before coming to a conclusion. This has been ignored by the German professors. who have renounced their British' distinctions and titles (siys tho "Chemist and Druggist"). _ The declaration which they have signed is as follows: —

"Under a triQing pretext, Which is not at all justified by its own history, and the real nature of "which is shown by several documents; England has made war upon us. Envious of Germany's commercial and industrial success, England, whioh is related to us by ties of kindred and race, has incited the nations against us for several years, and has particularly entered into relations with llussia and France in ordei to' annihilate our position in the world and our civilisation. Only in reliance, upon England's help, Russia, France, Belgium, and Japan could throw down the glove to us; therefore England has the moral responsibility for having set the world on fire, for the misfortune which has befallen millions of persons, and for all sacrifices which will nave to be made and have been made already, England's brutal, national egoism has brought 'down upon it a guilt which can never be eradicated." • /" '

Among the signatories of this extraordinary document ara several who have been honoured by British societies and medical organisations, as weil as by universities' in the "United Kingdom. We presume that all British bodies who have honoured these persons will note the declaration, and in consequence of its terms, by resolution remove the names from their rolls. We also observe that Professor Ernst Schmidt, Marburg, upon whom the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain conferred the Hanbury Medal in 1905, has put the medal at the disposal of the German-Read Cross Society because the gold it ia made of is valued at 500 marks (£25). Professor Schmidt is also an honorary member of the Pharmaceutical Society, but did not sign the declaration from' which we have quoted—indeed, a. number of notable German scientists,/including Bernstein, strongly disapprove of the action of the Von 'Behring-Kobert group, and a wordy, war is going on in consequence. 'Nevor.theless this does not mitigate the ws.ult which those individuals who signed the declaration have done to British bodies with which they are connected, and that connection should be completely severed forthwith. This needs no/argument; it is the obvious and only thing to do.