New Britain herald., 1915-06-30
GERMAN idea NOT !
GRASPED IN U. S,
Whole Trouble Due to Misunder|
standing Declares Meyer Gerhard

Berlin. June 3o.-Dr. Anton Meyer
Gerhard the attache of the German
colonial office who was sent from the
United States to Berlin by the German
ambassador, Count Won Bernstorff, to
explain the views of the United States
regarding the Lusitania case, pub
Hshed an article in Der Tag" yester-
day on Germany and America" in
which he says his 81 eriences con-
WINGED him that both Countries mis-
understand each other.
cit is true says DR.. Meyer-Ger-
hard in his article, that the Ameri-
can press with some laudable excep-
tions, especially the German Ameri-
can papers, have not succeeded in re-
naming neutral but the influence of
the press upon public opinion is some
times greatly overestimated. Doubt
less large sections of the American
people are friendly towards Germany
whose efficient organization is daily
winning new friends and arousing in
terest in things German.
Sympathize, With. Germany.
Zone excellent effect of the war is
upon German-Americans who, with
out sacrifice of their loyalty to their
adopted country, have shown strong
remembrance of their descent, their
education and their culture Besides
them on the other side of the ocean
there are wide circles who sympathize
with Germany"
Abiding to the discussion over the
ammunition question, DR.. Meyer-Ger-
hard says:
Germans often mistake large am
munition orders for filled orders. To
large extent such orders are chang
ing big factories into ammunition
works. This is regretable, but the
writer is convinced that large parts
of the American people disapprove of
it. A popular. vote would show con-
siderable majority against the prac-
tice. Germans must discriminate
against business men accepting or
ders and the great mass of the Ameri-
can people.
Misunderstood German Idea.
Equally there are Americans who
condemn violation of Belgian -neu-
trality and the, sinking of the Lusi-
tania and are unable to understand
the German idea Of the real condi-
tons while Germans are unable to
understand how Americans could
travel on an ammunition ship. Both
peoples are laboring under entirely
u1Herent opinions. Both have lived
hitherto in peace and friendship and
should continue $50 to live. There is
no real reasoHrfor- antHgp1iism exist
ing between item"
In the course of hisNaftic1e DR..
Meyer-Gerhard spoke of the causes,
which, he said, had weakened Ger
many former friendly feeling to-
ward America, citing the 1atter's In
clination towards England and .muni-
ton sales in America. Germany, on
the other hand, he said, was re-
preached with violating Belgium neu-
tralfty and devoting herself to mill
tarism in order to conquer the whole
world. The deaths of Americans on
the Lustiania had unfavorably affect
ed American sentiment towards Ger
many, he added.
Wrongly Treated by Each Other.
Regarding the question of Belgium
neutrality and militarism the writer
says the Germans cannot understand
the feeling aroused in America over
these questions, as they know that
Belgium surrendered her own neu-
trality and that militarism is only the
German nation in arms for it's own
defense. The American viewpoint
was different, however, and each ma