GERMANY miMg
EVENING LEDGER-I'HITJABELPHIA, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, M7
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(By CARL W.ACKERMAN
Copyrlsht, 101T, CJortre II. Doran Company.
REPUBLIC f
"James W. Gerard's diplomatic career in Germany was. based upon tjluhtness, frank-
ncss and a kind of 'news instinct' which caused him to regard His-position ''as, that of a
reporter for the United Slates Government."
. f.
Embassador Gerard Had a'Most Difficult Time of
It During His btay in Berlin, for While the
Foreign Office Was Hampered by the Military
and Navy, He Had to Overcome the Meddling
and Heckling of Pro-German Americans in
Berlin
Notwithstanding These Obstacles, the American
Representative to Germany Fulfilled the
Double Duties of the Minister of His Own
Country and the Guardian of the Rights of
Several Other Nations at War With the
Kaiser's Government
KTUBING 1915 and 191G our diplomatic relations with Germany
' have been expressed in one series of notes after another, and the
Kb'urdcn of affairs has been as much on the shoulders of Ambassador
ft&rard as on those of any other one American, for he has been the
Icfffcial who has had to transmit, interpret and right for our policies
fin Berlin. Mr. Gerard had a difficult task because he, like President
KWilson, was constantly iicckicu aim ridiculed by tliosc pro-German
Americans who were more interested in discrediting the Administra
tion than in maintaining peace. VI all the problems with which the
Ambassador had to contend, the German-American issue was the
greatest, and those who believed that it was centered in the United
States arc mistaken, for the capital of German-America was Berlin.
"I have had great deal of trouble in Germany from the Amer
ican correspondents when they went there," said Ambassador Gerard
in an address to the American Newspapers Publishers' Association
fin New York on April UC.
'Most of them became super-Ambassadors and proceeded to in
form the German Government that they must not believe me that
they must not believe the President they must not believe tho Amer
ican people 'but believe these people, and to a great extent this war
is due to the fact that these pro-German Americans, n certain num
ber of them, misinformed the German Government as to tho senti
ments of this country."
An Ambassador as a Reporter
James W. Gerard's diplomatic career in Germany was based
If, .Upon bluntncss, frankness and a kind of "news instinct" which
'."caused him to regard his position as that of a reporter for the
United States Government.
Berlin thought him the most unusual Ambassador it had ever
known. It never knew how to take him. He did not behave as other
diplomats did. When he went to the Foreign Office it was always
on, business. He did not flatter and praise, bow and chat or speak
to Excellencies in the third person, as Kuropcan representatives
usually do. Gerard began at the beginning of the war a policy of
'keeping the United States fully informed regarding Germany. Ho
used to report daily tho political developments and the press corn-
pent, and the- keen understanding which he had of German methods
f'ta
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ka. EMAJkL.rr-IM. itVAW.-C .....-.W.L- It
All right," said Ambassador Gerard, "but first let
me tear Lansing's signature off the bottom, nr some ono may use the passport
for other purposes."
was proved by his many forecasts of important developments. Lnst
September he predicted, in n messnge to the State Department, ruth
less submarine warfare beforo spring unless peace was made. He
notified Washington Inst October to watch for German intrigue in
Mexico and said that unless we solved the problem there wc might
have trouble throughout the wnr from Germans south of tho Kio
Grande.
During tho submarine controversies, when reports reached Ber
lin that the United States was divided and would not support Presi
dent Wilson in his submarine policy, Ambassador Gerard did every
thing ho could to give the opposite impression. Ho tried his best to
keep Germany from driving the United States into the war. That
he did not succeed was not tho fault of his efforts. Germany was
desperate and willing to disregard nil nations and nil international
obligations in an attempt to win the war with U-boats.
Last summer, during one of the crises over the sinking of a
passenger liner without warning, Mr. Gerard' asked the Chancellor
for an audience with tho Kaiser. Von Bcthihnnn-Hollweg said ho
would see if it could bo arranged. Tho Alnbassador waited two
weeks. Nothing was done, From his friends in Berlin ho learned
that the navy was opposed to such a conference and would not give
its consent. Mr. Gerard went to Hcrr von Jagow who "was then'
Secretary of State, and again asked for an audience. Ho waited
another week. Nothing happened and Mr. Gerard wroto the fol
lowing note to the Chancellor:
"Your Excellency Thrco weeks ago I asked for an audience
with his Majesty the Kaiser.
"A week ago 1 repented the request.
"Please do not trouble yourself further.
".Respectfully,
"JAMES W. GERARD."
The Ambassador called the embassy messenger and sent the
note io tho Chancellor's -palace. Threchours later hi was told tht
von Bethmann-Hollwcg had gone to Great Headquarters to arrange
for the meeting.
Sometimes in dealing with, the' Foreign Office the Ambassador
used tho samo roughshod methods whiclmade the Big Stick effective
during the Roosevelt Administration. A'f one'time Alexander Coch
ran, of New York, nctcd as special courier from the embassy In
London to Berlin. At the frontier he was arrcstcdand imprisoned.
Tho Ambassador heard of it, went to the Foreign Office and de
manded Cochran's immedlato release. The Ambassador had obtained
Mr.tochran's passports and showed them to the Secretary of Stat.
When ilerr von Jngow asked permission to retain one of tho pass
port so the matter could be investigated, the Ambassador said:
"All right, hut first let me tear Lansing's signature ofT the
bottom, or some one may use the passport for other purposes."
Tho Ambassador was not willing to take chances after it was
learpcd and proved by tho State Department that Germany was
using, American passports for spy purposes.
Official "Billets Doux" by the Score
In one' day alone, last fall, the American embassy sent ninety
two notes to ,tho Foreign Office, somo authorized by Washington
and somo unauthorized, protesting against unlawful treatment of
Americans, asking-ior, reforms in prison camps, transmitting money
and letters. aboutA German affairs in Entente countries, and other
matters whjch'Vero.'under discussion between Berlin" and Washing
ton. A,t 'ono" time an American woman instructor in Robert Col
lege wasrtereslc.ft'atWamemucnde and kept for weeks from com
municating With tho-Ambjis'sador. When he heard of it ho went to
the Foreign .'Office daily,., demanding her release, which he finally
secured. "..".-
Mr. Gerald's gw,prK, In bettering conditions in prison camps,
especially at Rulilcbciu will bo long remembered. !When conditions
were at their worst Jjq wivt'out dailyjto keep him$plf informed, and
then daily went to the jtyjrcjgn Office or wrote to" the' Ministry of
War in nil effort to get "belter nee'eommodations for the men. One
day he discovered cloven prominent English civilians, former re
spected residents in Borlln, living in a 'box stall similar to one which
his riding'horso had occupied in peace times. This so aroused the
Ambassador that ho volunteered to furnish funds for tho construc
tion of a new barracks ,Jn caso tho Government was not willing to
do it. But tho Foreign Office and tho War Ministry and other ofilcials
shifted' authority so often -thaU it .was impossjblo to get changes
made. The Ambassador decided to havo his reports' published in a
drastic effort to gain relief for the prisoners. The State Depart
ment granted the necessary authority nnd his descriptions of Ruhle
ben wcro published in tho United States and England, arousing such
a world-wido storm of indignation that tho German Government
changed the prison conditions nnd made Ruhlebcn fit for men for the
first time since the beginning of the wnr. "'
This activity of tho Ambassador aroused a great deal of bitter
ness and the Government decided to try to have him recalled. The
press censorship instigated various newspapers to attack tho Ambas
sador so that Germany might be justified in asking for his recall,
but tho ntt.nck failed for the simple reason that there was no evidence
against tho Ambassador except that he had been too vigorous in
insisting upon livable prison camp conditions.
(CONCLUDED TOMOIIROW)
PHILADELPHIANS AND NEAR-PHILADELPHIANS FURNISH THESE NEWSY PHOTOGRAPHS
: - 1
A ROYAL FAMILY THAT MAKES ITS HOME IN THE BIRTHPLACE OF AMERICAN LIBERTY
The first lion cubs born at tho Philadelphia Zoo to survive moro than a few days. Since their birth, June .1, they have been under tho watchful
caro of C. Emerson Brown, acting superintendent, and are now tho size of Newfoundland dogs. They aro lively and healthy.
HEALTHY SCHOOLGIRL ATHL
Harris is a livlnc exponent of 01
recreation as practiced at tho Palmyra High School
Miss Esther' Harris is a living exponent of outdoor physical
'!
COACHES CENTRAL HIGH RUNNERS
Much of the success attained by tho Red and
Gold cross-country speed boys is attributed to
Doctor Gallager's advice.
CHINESE INFANTRYMEN SERVE IK UNCLE SAM'S AWJY
Lev Pon and Ton, Sun, two sonS of the Far Et, aro as eager WJS1&J?"
rhotorraph by Kvcnlar I.4rrr Start )holoani' tr
PHILADELPHIA BOYS AT CAMP MEADE ARE NOT NEGLECTING ATHLETICS WHILE ACQUIRING THE ART OF WAR
Members of Companies F and G, of tU 315th Infantry, indulge in a lively game of soccer ball with tho m z$ that tb,ey dUplv iat nailltwy
nuvers tlt to W aakt:U tkek MSy.:ie.
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