KAISER'S VERSION OF THE WAR CAUSES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3156, 7 August 1917, Page 5

KAISER'S VERSION OF THE WAR CAUSES

AN AUTOGRAPH LETTER "NOT UNDERSTOOD" New York, August 5. Tho Philadelphia "Public Ledger" has published the first instalment of a book by Mr. James W. Gerard (lato American Ainbassador to Germany). _ The book contains an autographed facsimile of tho Kaiser's cablegram to President "Wilson, on August 10, 1914, in which tho Emperor's version of tho origin of the war had its first, publication. In tho cablegram tho Kaiser admits tho violation of th'o neutrality of Belgium, as a strategical necessity—having received news that Eranea was already preparing to onter Belgium, arid tho King of Belgium having refused my petition for freo passage through Belgium under a guarantee of Belgium's freedom."

Tho cablegram also slates that King George received Princo Henry of_ Prussia, and empowered France to inform the Kaiser that England would remain neutral in case of war between France mid Russia and Austria and Germany. The German Ambassador in London cabled that Sir Edward Grey stated that England would not interfere unless France, was being, crashed; and also cabled on July 30 that Sir Edward Grey st'ited that if tho war was confined to RussTa and Austria England would not move, but that if Germany entered, England would tako grave measures.. Tho Kaiser telegraphed on the samo day, begging King t George personally to uso all his power to prevent the warlike preparations of Russia and France, which were disturbing tho Kaiser's mediation, "as'l am in constant coniniunicationlwith the Tsar."

King George replied that he had used all possible influence to withhold France and Russia.

"I was anxiously preparing a Note," tlio Kaiser's message continued, "informing tho Tsar that Vienna, Berlin, and London wero agreeing to a British proposal that Austria should take Belgrade and a few other Serbian towns aijd a strip of Serbia as a guarantee that Serbia would carry out her written promises, when I was informed that. the Tsar had oi'dored the mobilisation of the whole of the Russian Army, which, of course, meant the forces, against Germany as well as against Austria. I telegraphed to ICinft George that if he would guarantee, with armed forces, the neutrality of France, I would not attack France. | King George replied that ho thought the offer was based 011 a misunderstanding. So far as I could make out, Sir Edward Grey never took iliy olFer seriously, and, instead, declared that England must defend Belgian neu-trality."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

KAISER'S ASSERTIONS DENIED (Rec. August 7, 1 a.m.)

London, August (!. *With reference to tlio Kaisers tele'gram to President Wilson, Mr. Gorard, in his book, saj-s: "I have tlie highest authority for declaring as absolutely without foundation tho statement, alleged to have beep made l>y tho King to Prince Henry of Prussia, that Ensland would remain neutral."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.