The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 1919. BRINGING THE EX-KAISER TO TRIAL.
So deeply rooted is the British sense of justice that the people cannot conceive it possible, in spite of cable messages stating that the ex-Kaiser cannot be indieted and tried for his crimes, that he is beyond the reach of the law. Jurists, like doctors, appear to disagree, but that is no reason why the Kaiser should escape arraignment, rather is it a reason why a special court should be agreed upon by the Allies to sit in judgment upon the ex-German Emperor, now a refugee in Holland. There is a feeling that unless the ex-Kaiser stands his trial justice will no lonyer be reverenced, for it is generally admitted that no greater criminal
over walked the earth than the author of the late war and all its horrors. A recent cable message states it is suggested (on what authority is not mentioned) that if the ex-Kaiser cannot be brought to trial he should be branded as the greatest criminal in history. and posterity left to pass judgment on him. The suggestion is one that is so foolish as not to deserve a moment's consideration. Tt is not only Britain, but all the Allied countries that are concerned in the dethroned German despot being brought to account for such crimes as can legally be attributed to him as principal or accessory, and the people of these countries will not be satisfied unless the law takes its course, hears the evidence and pronounces the verdict. A fair, impartial trial is all that is expected. There is no desire for vengeance, merely for justice. The Court could be so constituted as to be without suspicion of bias, and the verdict would be loyally accepted. Not until the ex-Kaiser has faced his accusers in open court will th« public be satisfied. Tt mav be impossible to prove him legally responsible for many of the atrocities committed, but a verv lengthy indictment could be framed eorirNi=!tin<r of charge.* for acts for which his responsibility may be sheeted home. Tt may be assumed that every conceivable technicality would be raised at such a trial, but neither technicalities, flaws in the law. nor any weakness of purpose should be allowed to limit the scope of justice. "What is insistently demanded is that the ex-Kaiser shall be brought to the bar of justice, and the demand is the outcome, of the. dictates of civilisation as opposed to those of barbarism. If he contends that he. personally, is not guilty. of the charges made against him, then the. onus will be on him to disclose the identity cf the actual criminals, but inasmuch as his position gave him absolute power for good or evil, it also made him responsible for what he did not do to prevent, the foul crimes which stained the twentieth century of Christendom. Pie at least suffered outrages and atrocities to be committed bv his hirplings with impunitv and eveu rewarded the criminals with iron crosses, so that p.?. an accessory, if not as a principal he will find it difficult—we may even venture to say impossible—to establish his innocence. So far from his rank affording him any protection, it aggravates his criminality, for it is the duty of kings and emperors to be just and humane, as well as to set an example of rectitude and high morality to the people they govern. The law recognises that all men are equal when brought to trial, and the basis of British justice is that all men are innocent until they are pronounced guilty. Much concern is felt as to whether the Allies will take a firm stand and compel the exKaiser's surrender. That there are difficulties in the way must be candidly admitted, though they are not insuperable. He is a refugee in Plolland, a neutral country, and all sorts of objections may be raised to his extradition, yet if the Allies are determined and are prepared to use force they will bring the criminal to justice. Nothing short of this will suffice. There is no precedent for such action, and the world may be thankful that occasion for a precedent of this nature has never arisen, but it has to be met now, so that although it will be necessary to create new machinery for bringing about the end in view, the task should be undertaken in order that the precedent may act as a deterrent for all time of such crimes for the commission or tolerance of which the ex-Kaiser's presence before a court of justice is demanded by the whole of the civilised world. It is unthinkable that he should be allowed to escape the consequences of his crimes merely because he has been a powerful despot. In the interests of universal morality and civilisation it is necessary that the trial should take place by a court so constituted as to inspire the confidence of both neutrals and Allies, as such a trial would prevent a repetition of the outrages which have aroused the horror of the world. The Peace Conference will not be fulfilling its duty if it does not formulate a demand for the ex-Kai-ser's trial and arrange for the constitution of a Court for that purpose. The Allies may be left to bring the criminal to justice, and their work in championing the cause of right against the doetrine of might would receive its crowning glory by the punishment of the author of the war.
suited his purpose to dilate upon t:i* press being owned .ind controlled by the capitalistic class and operated for the purpose of discounting the Labor party, Xo member of his audience of average ability or knowledge of what is transpiring in the Dominion, however, could possibly have been misled by such wild and unjustifiable charges. As a matter of fact, the press of New Zealand liaa 'jained an enviable reputation for its high standard, its fairness, and its advocacy of all that is just and reasonable. Xccessarily newspaper ownership involves capital, not only because of the expensive nature of its equipment anil the heavy working expenses, but also for other reasons, only too well known by those engaged in the business, as Labor is well aware when undertaking to run an organ of its own. As for di?counting the Labor party, the allegation is a pure invention. With sane labor ideals and aspirations the press of the Dominion is very largely sympathetic but not so witlv the tactics of the extremists, whose lamentable attitude towards the war and its destructive policy generally demand frank, if not severe, handling. Straightforward, honest criticism is always beneficial to any cause that claims to possess merit or needs redress. For Labor leaders, publicity is the salt of life. Unless they posed in the limelight of the press they would soon become obscure, while if they were left severely alone and subjected to a press blockade, as men of the Fraser, Somple and Holland brand deserve, they would rave at the treatment New Zealand lias ft free press, and all the progressive movements have been made possible by its persistent advocacy. If the soundness of Mr. Fraser's views on labor matters ir, on a par with his views as to the writers of articles in opposition to Labor, •his remarks are quite appreciable, for they display a lack of foundation that totally destroys all claim to sincerity, Every newspaper has its policy, and t.lr policy is loyaily nb-.ervod by the staff. who need not join' the paper if !' policy runs counter to their convictions. I Honesty of purpose is not a monopoly possessed by Labor leaders, but it can truly be said that if any journalist wnv such extravagant nousense as Mr. Fraser uttered in relation to this subject, ho would soon have to find a fresh field of operations wbere his peculiar talent for misrepresentation would be welcomed. The fact is that the whole tirade was an onslaught against capital. This is a foolish policy to adopt, for it is onlv by the amicable co-operation of both cnpital and labor--whether -tin' <;t|>ii'' bo private or State-owned—that the present problems can be solved and pr gross and prosperity secured. Labor needs >the help of the press, and that help is willingly given on all occasions when it is deserved, and though unjustifiable abuse is sometimes given by illadvised laborites, that will not prevent the press from doing its utmost towards ameliorating the condition of the workers and insisting on a fair and square deal.
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Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1919, Page 4
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1,428The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 1919. BRINGING THE EX-KAISER TO TRIAL. Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1919, Page 4
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