But, in addition, the idea of _my being produced before a neutral tribunal_, no matter how constituted, cannot be entertained by me. _I do not recognize the validity of any sentence pronounced by any mortal judge whatsoever, be he never so exalted in rank, upon the measures taken by me most conscientiously as Emperor and King--in other words, as the constitutional, not responsible, representative of the German nation_--since, were I to do so, I should thereby be sacrificing the honor and dignity of the German nation represented by me. _Legal proceedings having to do with guilt and punishment_, instituted solely _against the head_ of one of the nations which took part in the war, _deprive that one nation of every vestige of equality of rights with the other nations_, and thereby of its prestige in the community of nations. Moreover, this would cause, as a consequence, _the impression desired by the enemy that the entire "question of guilt" concerns only this one head of a nation and the one nation represented by him_. It must be taken into consideration, moreover, that _a nonpartisan judgment of the "question of guilt" is impossible_, if the _legal proceedings are not made to include the heads and leading statesmen of the enemy powers_, and if their conduct is not subjected to the same investigation, since it goes without saying that the conduct of the aforesaid one nation at the outbreak of the war can be judged correctly only if there is simultaneous consideration of the actions of its opponents. _A real clearing up of the "question of guilt,"_ in which surely Germany would have no less interest than her foes, could be accomplished only if _an international, nonpartisan tribunal, instead of trying individuals as criminals, should establish all the events which led to the World War_, as well as all other offenses against international law, in order thereafter to measure correctly the guilt of individuals implicated in every one of the nations participating in the war. Such an honest suggestion was officially made in Germany after the end of the war, but, so far as I know, it was partly refused, partly found unworthy of any answer at all. Furthermore, Germany, immediately after the war, unreservedly threw open her archives, whereas the enemy alliance has taken good care so far not to follow such an example. The secret documents from the Russian archives, now being made public in America, are but the beginning.