de of Germany.
Numerous American scholars who received their scientific training at our
universities have convinced themselves of the quality and the peaceful
tendency of German work, the exchange of scientists has proved of
deepening influence on the mutual understanding, the lasting intercourse
of scholarly research gives us the feeling of being members of one great
community. This is why we entertain the hope that the scientific
circles of America will not give credit to the libels our enemies
propagate against us.

These libels, above all, accuse Germany of having brought about the
present war, she being responsible for the monstrous struggle which is
extending more and more over the whole world. The truth points to the
contrary. Our foes have disturbed us in our peaceful work, forcing the
war upon us very much against our desire. We are at a righteous war for
the preservation of our existence and at the same time of sacred goods
of humanity. The murder of Serajevo was not our work; it was the outcome
of a widely extending conspiracy pointing back to Servia, where for many
years already a passionate agitation against Austria had been carried
on, supported by Russia. It was Russia, therefore, that took the
assassins under her wings, and some weeks already before the war broke
out she promised her assistance to that blood-stained State. Nobody but
Russia has given the dangerous turn to the conflict; nobody but Russia
is to blame for the outbreak of the war. The German Emperor, who has
proved his love of peace by a peaceful reign of more than twenty-five
years, in face of the imminent danger, tried to intermediate between
Austria and Russia with the greatest zeal, but while he was negotiating
with the Czar Russia was busy with the mobilization of a large army
toward the German frontier. This necessitated an open and decisive
inquiry that led to the war. This only happened because Russia wanted it
so, because she wanted to raise the Muscovites against the Germans and
the Western Slavs and to lead Asia into the field against Europe.

France, too, might have kept the peace, the decision resting solely with
her. The security of Germany demanded that she should inquire what
France would do in the impending war; the answer of France unmistakably
betrayed her intention to join in the war. As a matter of fact, it was
not Germany but France who commenced the war.

England already before the war stood in close relations to Fra