Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-06-18
Has No knowledge That
Meyer Visited America to
Buy War Supplies.
ASSURES LANSING
.RUMORS ARE UNTRUE
Officially Denies Reports That Presi.
don't and Secretary Of State May Not
Question His Sincerity in Asking
Safe Conduct For Emissary-German
Press Urges Friendly Reply to
American Note.

washing tOH June lS. - count Won
Bernstcrff today informed Secretary
Lansing that neither he nor any mem
Der of the embassy staff had any
knowledge of a DR.. Alfred Meyer. said
to have been secretly in this country
buying war supplies.
Published reports have alleged that
Meyer returned to Germany under a
safe conduct obtained for DR.. Anton
Meyer-Gerhard from the allies, by the
United States. at the ambassadors re-
quest. The ambassador also assured
Secretary Lansing that DIR. Meyer
Gerhard never had engaged in any
other work than his mission for the
German Red Cross. He made no re-
quest for an investigation OF the pub
iishcd charges.
After leaving the state department
the ambassador said he had assured
Secretary Lansing concerning his sim
cerity In asking safe conduct for
Meyer Gerhard. declaring the charge
an absolute fabrication and that he
had taken official notice of it only be-
cause of his desire to assure the presi-
dent and the secretary of state that
he had not sought to deceive them.
Secretary Lansing indicated that
some statemen, would be made during
the day.
Emissary confers With Officials.
Berlin, via London, Jpne Is. - The
effect of the arrival of DR.. Anton
Meyer Gerhard. who has come from
the German embassy at Washington
with messages bearing on the Ger
man-American situation. upon thc
preparatory work on the German
answer to the American note is no;
thus far perceptible. Count Won
Bernstorffs emissary began today the
first Of q series Of conferences with
officials OF the foreign Office He spent
most OF yesterday with the secretary
of state for the colonies, DR.. F. W. Solf.
at the latter's country place. following
brief conversations with Gottlieb Won
Jagow, the foreign minister. and I'm
der Secretary Zimmerman.
That DIR. Meyer -Gerhard's first ex-
tended report on conditions in the
United States should have been made
to DIR. Solf. is regarded as natural in
view of the position of the colonial sec
retary, and there are other indications
that DR.. Solf Is taken an interest in the
question of German-American relations,
and may play role in the deliberations
on Germany's answer.
Soif Has American tendencies.
OF men in higher government posi-
tions, DR.. Solf is one of those most
familiar with life and conditions in the
United States. He has, in fact. q good
deal Of the American in the manner Of
his talk an daction. His influence on
German policy. concerning which there
are conflicting currents. may be ex-
pected to be favorable to an ultimate
understanding.
1t is too early to predict what form
the German note will take. Apparently
an attempt will be made to further
open discussions. The newspaper war
between the no-settlement faction and
those who desire an amicable reply,
still wages. Naval officials declare that
Germany can not yield as to the meuIls
of carrying on submarine warfare.
German Press 10 Friendly.
The Cologne Gazette calls attention
to the fact that the German press points
out satisfactorily that President Will
sons note is such that friendly reply
can be made.
ut Is quite certain that the German
government will do this and will be
generally supported by the people," the
paper says. 1t would be pure imbecil-
ity to seek to drag in. without necessity,
ninth or tenth enemy for ourselves
even tho its participation in the war
would be limited to supplying the
quadruple alliance with money and
munitions"