Salt Lake Tribune | 1919-07-28 | Page 4 | Michaelis Says Erzberger Errs

MiGHAELiS SAYS ERZBERGER BBS German Leaders Are Still Wrangling Over War Responsibility. PKRt-IN July 27. (By the Associated Press.) Dr. George Michaelis, the former imperial chancellor, in a declaration published pub-lished by the Tasrlisehe Rnndshau, disclaims dis-claims responsibility for refusal of peace overtures in 1517 attribu ted to him by Mathias Krzherger, vice premier, speaking speak-ing in the German national assembly Friday. On that occasion M. Krzberffer declared that peace overtures were made to Germany Ger-many by Great Britain and France through the Vatican in August, 1 r 1 7 . and that Chancellor Michael is on Sep ten i her 2i wrote that the situation was not suf-fi' suf-fi' ientlv clear and rejected the overtures. Dr. Michaehs says that the proposals were laid before him early in September, not August, and that be discussed them with Dr. Von Kuehlmann, who was foreign for-eign secretary at the time. Later he requested re-quested the emperor to hold a crown council in the presence of the supreme army and navy authorities. This was held on September 11 and the result of the conference, he says, was summed up by the emperor In the following written memorandum : "The annexation of Belgium is dubious. Belgium could be restored. The, Flanders coast, it is -Irue, is very important and Zeehrugge must not fall into the hands of the British. But the Belgian coast alone could not be held. "The close economic union of Belgium with Germany must be brought about. Belgium lias the greatest interest in this." The former chancellor ex-plained that he arranged with Von Kuehlmann to make soundings, through a suitable person, per-son, to indicate, in accordance with the crown council's decision, that prerequisites prerequi-sites for negotiations were recognition of Germany's territorial integrity, restoration restora-tion of the German colonies, abandonment of an economic war and no indemnity. Great secrecy was necessary and it was considered inadvisable to negotiate through the Vatican. In conclusion Dr. MichaeMs says: "I did my utmost, and If the plans failed it was due to the fact that our enemies were unwilling." General Erich Ludendorff. former first quartermaster general, is also out with a declaration In which he denies that he knew of the papal letter or the reply of Dr. Michaelis until disclosed by Herr Erzberger. (New York Times Cable, Cop3Tight.) BICRNIC, July 27. The German Social Democrat, Kaiitsky, who last November was entrusted with the examination of the archives of Berlin connected with the origin of the war, has now completed his work. The documents would fill three volumes. The correspondent is assured that the documents contain positive proof of the ex-kaiser's responsibility for the war and that if they were known the majority of the German people would demand his impeachment. Dr. Edward Bernstein, who has just arrived in Switzerland to attend the second sec-ond international socialist congress at Lucerne, in an Interview expressed the opinion that the most difficult problem Germany must face was not territorial but the labor question. As a result of the war the German working classes are restless and; inclined to underestimate the possibilities of stead v progress and organization. The Bolshevists, in Bernstein's Bern-stein's opinion, are retrogressive,.' not progressive, and in Russia have merely ruined the capitalists and not destroyed the capitalist system. Another generation of capitalists will arise worse than the first, he says. The Russian Bolshevists have begun at the wrong end and the Hungarians have done likewise