Page:The guilt of William Hohenzollern.djvu/135

Rh Definite testimony of this kind cannot be summarily disposed of on the vague statement of the accused, that "it could not possibly be correct.'

But help comes to the Rescue Commission. At the right moment Dr. Gooss throws it a plank to cling to, and through it the Commission feels justified in declaring that Szögyeny's most definite testimony is untrustworthy, because he—"had aged beyond his years!" (Page 39.)

It is not precisely in this way that the old regime can rehabilitate its honour. Consider the situation at this period. The German and Austrian Governments were preparing a war which might turn out a matter of life and death for these States. It was essential that the posts of cardinal importance should be filled by men of the highest powers. It was imperative that the two Allied Governments should perfectly understand each other, and that each should be accurately informed of the other's intentions. The Austrian Ambassador in Berlin formed the connecting link between the two States. On his sagacity, clear-headedness and accuracy depended the lives of nations and of governments. Thus there are only two possibilities before us. Was Count Szögyeny really the senile dullard that the white-washers of William and his understrappers now make him out? In this case the Austrian Government acted in an incredibly wanton and reckless manner in leaving a dull-witted driveller in this highly important post, while the German Government showed itself no less wanton and reckless in entrusting, at such a crisis, the most difficult and important functions to an idiot who did not know what people were telling him. A more serious indictment against both Governments is not conceivable. The exculpation is in this case worse than