RESPONSIBILITIES
[Sidenote: William II charged with responsibility for war.]
"The allied and associated powers publicly arraign William II. of
Hohenzollern, formerly German Emperor, not for an offense against
criminal law, but for a supreme offense against international morality
and the sanctity of treaties."
The ex-Emperor's surrender is to be requested of Holland and a special
tribunal set up, composed of one judge from each of the five great
powers, with full guarantees of the right of defense. It is to be guided
"by the highest motives of international policy with a view of
vindicating the solemn obligations of international undertakings and the
validity of international morality," and will fix the punishment it
feels should be imposed.
[Sidenote: Persons who violated laws of war to be tried.]
Persons accused of having committed acts in violation of the laws and
customs of war are to be tried and punished by military tribunals under
military law. If the charges affect nationals of only one State, they
will be tried before a tribunal of that State; if they affect nationals
of several States, they will be tried before joint tribunals of the
States concerned. Germany shall hand over to the associated Governments,
either jointly or severally, all persons so accused and all documents
and information necessary to insure full knowledge of the incriminating
acts, the discovery of the offenders, and the just appreciation of the
responsibility. The Judge [garbled in cabling] will be entitled to name
his own counsel.