Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-16

4
1T is known for fact that during
his recent conference with Secretary
Lansing. Ambassador Bcrnstorff has not
confined his discussions to the subject
/ OF submarine warfare. Rather has no
| combined his discussion on that topic
| with this question OF the pending loan"
The informant OF tho service there
| upon declared that Count Won Bern
storff had protested against the placid
attitude OF the Washington govern
| ment IN permitting this loan to be float
ed and In that connection had said in
| effect:
| Germany has wanted to be friends
| win the United States. 1t has tried to
meet the point Of view OF the Washing
ton government with regard to sub
| marine warfare. because It wants to re-
tain the friendship of the United States
| But. II despite this. the people OF the
United States. who control the govern
mcnt. subscribe to a loan OF a billion
| dollars for our enemies to fight US with,
| what is the use OF us struggling any
, longer TO keep UP 80 strange a friend
ship. What profit is there for Germany
| In friendship which impcls us to ten
der the use OF the most effective weapon
! we have to fight our enemies with. if in
return our enemies are TO secure from
Z the United States Il tremendous war
fund to use against U.S."
Following this line Of argument
Count Won Bernstorf is said to have
automatically pointed out to Secretary
| Lansing that IL tho loan goes through
1t would be greatly to Germany's adj
| vantage, since the United States is not
! TO be friendly, to cease all negotiations
with regard 10 submarine warfare and
let matters take their course.
Probably" said the gentleman. that
| Is what the German ambassador had in
| mind the other day when he referred to
! In qjf-h
| tainly, If friendship with the United
| States produces no tangible benefits
| Germany would be better to be freed Of
all these negotiations about torpedoing
ships and at liberty 10 carry her war
| faro TO the bitter end, and the under
standing is that Won Bcrnstorn has
made this clear 10 the Washington au-
| thoritics"
OBSERVATIONS ny FRIEND
OF THE ROCKEFELLERs
These observations were made by a
| man who whatever pro-German sym
pathies he may have. does not permit
them to weigh In the balance against
| Of affairs, and whose Intimacy with
! the Rockefeller group enables him
| generally to accurately forecast their
attitude on great public questions.
With regard TO the alleged propa-
| ganda which is said to be operating
| Try there has been no attempt yet to
ascertain II 1t is an organized and
| concerted movement.
A member of the Anglo-French
! Commission admitted to-day, however,
| that the movement. II movement II is,
has not taken the form OF threats
! Of violence against the personal safety
| of the six members of the commission
| These threats were embodied, 1t was
| admitted, in letters to the number OF
| Atty or more. which have been re-
| ceived Not 4 member OF the COM
mission has been neglected by these
| letter-writers.
In consequence. Lord Reading. who
| Is Lord Chief Justice of England and
chairman of the commission, has been
! prevailed upon, It was declared, to
! double his bodyguard. as we're also
| the other five members OF the COM
| mission. The police were notified, and
United States Secret Service men and
| post-office inspectors called into con-
sultation. AS a result. a plan OF cam
paign has been mapped out, which. 1t
is hoped Will conducc to the absolute
safety OF the distinguished visitors
Most OF the letters arc from mani
fest cranks. A dozen OF more OF them
however. are said to be Of such a
j Office inspectors are investigating then,
and 1t is barely possible that some
arrests will follow.
The contents of tho letters run the
scale from abuse to threats agains,
! the lives of the commissioners In
| addition. II was learned to-day that
scores Of letters are beginning &c
reach the Offices Of prominent financiers
| who have been mentioned in connec-
ton with the loan OF a similar threat
ening nature.
Members of the commission declined
to-day 10 discuss these letters and
rrofessed to regard them lightly. II
Is fact, nevertheless. that sufficient i'm
portant is attached to cause a com
pletc change in the original plans here
II was determined that during the
remainder OF the stay OF the commits
sion in New York no announcement
will be made in advance of the plans OF
any of the commissioners Similarly
none OF them will appear on the streets
| in future without adequate guards
Again. largely upon the advice OF the
police. the commissioners have agreed
not TO visit the financial section in Z
| body or even in couples. Each com :
missioner goes about the city alone, al
4 regards any other member OF the com
mission accompanying him. but always
with one. and generally with two de-
tectves near at hand TO afford him
complete protection.
| Bankers who have talked with the
believe the propaga against them
is Of an organized nature. One OF the
drastic changes made by the commits
| sion is the abandonment of the rooms
Of the Clearing House Association as
| their meeting place. 1t is understood
| that the police advised them it would
he better if their customary meeting
place were not publicly known. In
this connection it was learned that a
plan to meet at the Chamber OF Com
MERGE was abandoned because Of the
! lack Of enthusiasm on the part Of many
| of the officers and members ri the
| chamber. in the circumstances. to have
| the AnElo-French negotiators to meet
| in their chamber.
! There are many German members OF
the Chamber OF Commerce. and it was
| thought that a delicate situation might
be created If the original plan was ad-
! hered to.
| AT the same time. it is to be noted
that among officials of some of the
| Wall Streets big financial institutions