Paris Peace Conf. 862.001/14: Telegram
The Minister in the Netherlands ( Garrett ) to the Commission to Negotiate Peace
[Received January 9—10:30 a.m.]
80. Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Justice in reply to questions put by van Emden on the subject of the Government’s attitude toward the ex-Kaiser8 yesterday made a statement to the following effect:
The Ministers are aware that wrong judgments of the line of conduct adopted by the Government in this matter have occurred under the influence of inaccurate representations abroad, and refer to the Premier’s statement of December 10 wherein he stated:
- First: That the Government would have been better pleased had the Kaiser not sought a refuge in Holland.
- Second: That he had already abdicated and that he entered Dutch territory as a private individual.
- Third: That he had confronted the Government with a fait accompli as there had been no warning of his coming, of any nature.
- Fourth: That there could be no question of internment after the abdication but that the choice of residence could not be left to the Kaiser.
- Fifth: That the Government could assume no other point of view in its future course of action than that dictated by the laws of hospitality and in the event of extradition being demanded the reply would depend upon the law and circumstances, and,
- Sixth: That the present arrangements were provisional.
The two Ministers further declared that commission to define the legal position of the ex-Kaiser had not been instituted, but that joint advice had been received on the subject from several lawyers at the request of the Minister of Justice which the Government must regard as confidential.