The Washington times., 1915-06-28
BERLIN MISLED ON
FIRST NOTEBY WHAT.
BRYAN TOLD DUMBA
Ex.Secretary Himself Reveals
Why U. S. Protest Was
Lightly Regarded.

NEW YORK. June 2s.-The Times to-
day says:
Before leaving Washington for San
Francisco, William J. Bryan prepared
statement for the press, intended 20
correct widespread publications that he
had informed DR.. Dumba, the amoas-
sador of Austria Hungary, that Presi-
dent Wilson'S note to Germany after
the Lusitania disaster was not to be
taken seriously.
For the first time II is disclosed au-
thoritatively through Mr.. Bryan's state
ment that his alleged Interpretation of
this document was made the subject OF
official exchanges between Washington,
Berlin and Vienna. The Importance OF
the matter lies in the fact that the Ger
man government credited the statement
attributed to Mr.. Bryan. and on that ac-
count failed to realize the seriousness
with which the United States viewed the
wholesale destruction of human life by
German submarines.
Alleges Misrepresentation.
While Mr.. Bryan says that his CONVEX
sation was misrepresented in Berlin, he
fails to tell exactly what he lid say to
the Austrian Hungarian ambassador.
been the understanding here that Am
bassador Dumba got the impression
from Mr.. Bryan that President Wilson 6
note informing the German government
that 1t would be held to a "strict ac-
countability" was intended for home
consumption in the United States, and
ssr ssr,o., that reason r,s was not to be taken
man government was impressed by the
remark alleged to have been made to
the ambassador by Mr.. Bryan Is indi-
thst Se hs haa
terpreted in Berlin"
Mr.. Bryan's Statement
The former Secretary's statement fol-
lows:
Il have noticed that a number Of
statement to the effect that after
the sending Of the first note to Ger
many. l gave Ambassador Dumba
the impression that the note was not
willing that the uninformed shall be
misled by that portion of the press
which is endeavoring to force this
country into war. l reported to the
President the conversation which /
had with Ambassador Dumba and
received his approval Of what I had
said.
When we learned that the con-
Yersat1on had been misinterpreted in
Berlin. l brought the matter to the
attention of Ambassador Dumba,
and secured from him a statement
certifying to the correctness Of the
report of the conversation that had
made to the President. Ambassador
Dumba's statement was sent to our
embassy at Berlin. and Ambassador
Dumba also telegraphed the Ger
man government, affirming the cor
rectness Of my report of the inter-
view, and denying the construction
that had been placed upon It, These
are the facts In the case
Whatever IT was that Mr.. Bryan said
to the ambassador of fAustria-HunRary
the fact remains that the German gov
ernment was informed in way that II
regarded as authoritative, or at least
authentic, that the American Secretary
Of State had indicated that President
wilson's note was not to be taken seri-
ously. The effect of this information
on the Imperial authorities in Berlin
was reflected in the character Of the
response to the American communica-
ton. 1t was apparent also from press
dispatches from Berlin that the Ger
man government did not seem to be
concerned over the American situation
From what has been understood here
and 1t did not take Mr.. Bryan's state
ment to disclose the fact, the powers
that be in Berlin felt that President
Wilson had employed such strong
language merely to appease aroused
sentiment In the United States and that
Germany need have no cause for worry
over any prospect that the two coun-