Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Henry pleads for brother

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 July 9, 1919

Prince Henry of Prussia, younger brother of former Kaiser Wilhelm II, has now spoken out in "aid of the dethroned war lord," reports the Associated Press.  Henry is adding "his plea to that of others for abandonment by the Allies" who want to bring Wilhelm "to trial for his crimes against mankind."

Prince Henry has sent a telegram to his first cousin, King George V,  "begging him to desist in the effort to extradite the former monarch, pledges himself to assist the King in bringing to light 'the truth regarding the war and its consequences.'"


Prince Henry also refers to a conversation he had had with King George in July 1914 before he returned to Berlin and was with the Emperor "until mobilization began."

"I can testify that the Kaiser and his counselors endeavored by every means to avert the war and disaster to mankind.  I am ready to refute the calumnies regarding the German Kaiser, which have circulated for years in contradiction to all truth, and I place myself at your disposal in order to assist Your Majesty in bringing to light the truth regarding the war and its consequences,"  stated the Prince in his telegram.

Last December, Prince Henry addressed members of the Prussian royal house.  He said he was forced to "recognize" his brother's abdication, he "considered himself personally attached" to Wilhelm "to the end of his life and would do everything to preserve him from harm."

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 On July 30, 1914, Prince Henry sent a telegram to King George, asking him to 'secure the neutrality of France and Russia," stating that "William (the German Emperor), being very uneasy, is doing his best to carry out the Czar's request to preserve peace."

King George replied to Henry, informing him that "the British government had done its best to get Russia and France to postpone further military preparations."  He added that if Austria would be content with the "occupation of Belgrade and the neighboring Serbian territory as a pledge of Austria's claims against Serbia,"  the King said he would trust the Emperor to use his "great influence to persuade Austria" to accept the proposal.

It is understood that the telegrams from 1914 are 'conversations' that Henry refers to his recent telegram to King George.

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