Issued to The Associated Press from General Headquarters, Sept. 2.
I do not know what is thought of this war in America. I assume
there have been published in America the telegrams exchanged
between the German Emperor, the Emperor of Russia, and the King of
England, containing the history of the events that preceded the
outbreak of the war, and which bears irrefutable testimony of how
the Emperor, until the last moment, strove hard to preserve the
peace.
These efforts had to be futile, as Russia, under all circumstances,
had resolved upon war, and as England, which for decades had
encouraged the anti-German nationalism in Russia and France, did
not avail herself of the splendid opportunity offered her to prove
her often-emphasized love of peace, otherwise the war between
Germany and France and England could have been averted.
When once the archives are opened the world will learn how often
Germany extended to England her friendly hand, but England did not
desire the friendship of Germany. Jealous of the development of
Germany, and feeling that by German efficiency and German industry
she has been surpassed in some fields, she had the desire to crush
Germany by brute force, as she in former times subdued Spain,
Holland, and France. She believed the moment had arrived, and
therefore the entry of German troops into Belgium gave her a
welcome pretext to take part in the war.
Germany, however, was forced to enter Belgium because she had to
forestall the planned French advance, and Belgium only awaited this
advance to join France. That only a pretext was involved as far as
England is concerned is proved by the fact that already on the
afternoon of Aug. 2, that is, prior to the violation of Belgium
neutrality by Germany, Sir Edward Grey assured the French
Ambassador unconditionally of the help of England in case the
German fleet attacked the French coast.
Moral scruple, however, the English policy does not know. And thus
the English people, who always posed as the protagonist of freedom
and right, has allied itself with Russia, the representative of the
most terrible barbarism, a country that knows no spiritual or no
religious freedom, that tramples upon the freedom of peoples as
well as of individuals. Already England is beginning to recognize
that she has made a mistake in her calculations, and that Germany
will master her enemies. She is therefore trying by the pettiest
means to injure Germany as much as possible in her commerce and
colonies, by instigating Japan, regardless of the consequences to
the cultural community of the white race, to a pillaging expedition
against Kiao-Chau, and leading the negroes in Africa to fight
against the Germans in the colonies.
Having strangled the news service of Germany to the whole world,
and having opened the campaign against us with a falsehood, England
will tell your countrymen that the German troops burned down
Belgian villages and cities, but will pass over in silence the fact
that Belgian girls gouged out the eyes of defenseless wounded.
Officials of Belgian cities have invited our officers to dinner and
shot and killed them across the table. Contrary to all
international law, the whole civilian population of Belgium was
called out, and after having at first shown friendliness, carried
on in the rear of our troops a terrible warfare with concealed
weapons.
Belgian women cut the throats of soldiers whom they had quartered
in their homes while they were sleeping. England also will say
nothing of the dumdum bullets which are being used by the English
and French despite all conventions and their hypocritical
proclamations of humanity, which can be seen here in their original
packing as they were found on French and English prisoners of war.
The Emperor has authorized me to say all this and to state that he
has full confidence in the sense of justice of the American people,
which will not allow itself to be deceived through the war of
falsehood which our enemies are conducting against us.
The statement of the Chancellor concludes as follows:
Every one who has lived in Germany since the outbreak of the war
has been able to witness the great moral uprising of all Germans
who, pressed hard on all sides, cheerfully take the field for the
defense of their rights and their existence; every one knows that
this people is not capable of any unnecessary cruelty or of any
brutality. We will win, thanks to the great moral strength which
our just cause gives to our troops, and in the end the greatest
falsehoods will be able to obscure our victories as little as they
do our rights.
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