The Washington herald., 1915-07-21

| The following is a translation by the
Berlin representative Of the New forh
Sun of the article contributed to Der
Tag by DIR. Meyer-Gerhard on his re-
turn from the United States as the en-
voy of Count YOU Bernstorff, to report
the sentiments of Americans on the con-
| troversy with Germany over submarine
warfare:
l~During times of excitement, when
calm reflection is impaired by the heat
OF sympathies or antipathies, as in the
present war of the nations, misunder-
standings are bound to arise and present
serious menace. My sojourn in Amer
lea during the first nine months or the
war and my present closer acquaintance
with the prevalent opinion in Germany
| of America have convinced me that these
two countries absolutely 1ail 10 uhueF
stand each other.
I'm Germany the former very friendly
and kind sentiment for Americans has
been smothered, insomuch as the lean
ing toward England Of public sentiment
in the United States has been considered
offensive and because the extent and
manner OF supplying arms and ammuni-
ton to our enemies has been accepted
as an unfriendly act.
In the United States. on the other
hand. Germany is accused Of having
of having sold herself to 'militarism
for the purpose of conquering the en-
tire world And last. but not least.
the violent deaths OF Americans citizens
on the Lusitania has succeeded in ef-
fectively prejudicing public sentiment
against Germany.
AS to the affirmed leaning Of the
United States toward England 1t must
be admitted that the American press. in
most cases. has not succeeded In re-
naming on the difficult road Of neu-
trality.
Light and shadow of Press.
with a few praiseworthy exceptions.
pre-eminently of the papers edited IN
German, the press has been inclined to
bestow too much light on England and
too much shadow on Germany. This 10
not the place to discuss the causes at
tributable to the technique of news ser
vice which have led to this attitude Of
the American press that we have con-
sidered so unfair. But it must be pointed
out with special emphasis that notwith-
standing the not to be underestimated
influence of the newspapers on PUBIC
opinion in the United States, such pub
lie opinion is by no means to be identified
with the attitude of these newspapers.
American statesmen love to speak OF
the large mass of thinking. calm ana
reserved American citizens. and to des.
ignate the influence of these politically
nonprominent classes of the populace az
being decisive. Manifold personal ex-
periences, which l have had occasion to
gather in various parts OF the United
States, have convinced me that these
circles are far more well disposed toward
Germany than might be expected from
the attitude of the very newspapers
which they read. Besides il must not
be overlooked that the United states
has inherited its language. its law.
large part OF its public organizations and
a thousand sundries regulating daily life
from England and that the language
common to both countries has facilitated
to a great extent the spread Of Eng
lish influence.
THE enormous accomplishments OF
Germany in this war, her remarkable
efficiency in a military as also in an
economic sphere. have attracted the at
tention of the United States in an in
creased degree to German organizations.
Circles which hitherto knew little or
nothing of Germany have begun to &C.
cupy themselves with this country.
Linked with German Culture.
And above all. the war has had the
effect of making the German-Ameri-
cans without detriment to the loyalty
to their new fatheriand more intensely
conscious of their German extraction
and Of linking them more closely with
German culture. AS these circles rep
resent an important part of the popu-
lation of the United States, 1t would
be unjust for this reason, II for no
other, to speak in general OF an un-
friendly sentiment of the American
populace toward Germany,
Besides these German Americans.
there are other component parts of the
American populace-though not quite
~ numerous-whose sympathiss are
on the side Of Germany. In any casa.
We are justified in hoping that the
sympathies Of the Americans for the
German people will increase in pro-
portion to the growing enlightenment
Of the population Of the United States
about Germany.
unfortunately. It cannot be denied
that orders for the SUPPLY Of large
consignments Of ammunition to the
snsnaiss Of Germany haSs hean nc.