A Family Lie

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 October 1916, Page 3

A Family Lie

KAISER'S ' INNOCENCE."

, The Times publishes the following letter, signed to "Memor" :— The Emperor William has been renewing his solemn asseverations that he did his utmost to avoid war, but that his wicked enemies left him no choice and compelled Germany to fight for her existence. A correspondent of The Temps reminds the world that His Majesty is closely following the example of his revered grandfather. He too was a pacific and most pious prince whom aggressive neighbours usad to drive into war at the exact moment which suited his military advisers. That was the German myth in 1870. .generally allowed by a credulous world until the history of the forged telegram exposed it. But it was also the myth in 18GG, when the Austrians were the criminals. Ha ve we not William I.'a word for his innocence? On June 18 he declared in his manifesto that "he had done all in his power to spare Prussia the sufferings and sacrifices of a war." i "This," he added, "is known to my people andi to God, who sees the heart. We have no. choice, we must fight for our existence." Unfortunately von •Moltke contradicts his august master point blank. The war of 1866 (he writ 's) did not take place because the existence of Prussia was threatened o.' in obedience to public opinion or to the voice of the people. It was a war which was Forese n long before, which was prepared with deliberation and recognised, as necessary by the Cabinet, not in order to obtain territorial aggrandizement or material advantages, hut in order to secure the establishment of Prussian hegemony in Germany. The lie on the lips of the pious HoIte'.i7.( I'ei n to-day is the same as the lie put into the nicuth of pious Hohen-zol'-rn in 1866. The only difference I.s that- the Austrians, who were then its victims, are now its guarantors. The change ( f roles is piquant and instructive.