New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-17
Hasn't Asked for Safe
Conduct to Europe, Bern
stOrff Declares.
EDITORS DENY
BEING MUZZLED
Chief Propaganda Post Hard to
Fill - Munsterberg and
Meyer Suggested.
From -. rr.bur, Bureau d,

Washington, May Denying that
tho German Embassy had suggested the
dcsirability Of DR.. Bernhard DernburG
leaving the country, Count Won Bern
storf. the German Ambassador, admit
ted to-day that Dr.. Deruburg had notl-
fed him OF his intention TO leave.
81 do not know where he is going
said the ambassador, "but he IS lcaV-
inc OF his own volition. only know
that Dr. Dernburg told me he had de
cided 10 leave the United States. Dr..
Dcrnburg is commissioner Of the
German Red Cross. His decision 70
leave the United States was voluntary
and without suggestion from the en-
bassv or the German government Dr.
Dernburc is a private citizen
The ambassador was asked II he MAD
made any arrangements for the safe
trnn.portation Of Or. Dernburg TO Hol-
land or some other country from Wnlch
he could safely reach Germany without
interference from the Allies.
~ have not been requested TO DO So
the count replied
The report that Count Won Bern
s.orr the German Ambassador, would
inform the German press in this coun-
t,v that their critical attitude o.
President Wilson's administration has
rnfavorablv reflected upon the I'M
,erisl German government, and thaC
thew must moderate their tone IN the
future, was derided in local German
newspaper Offices yesterday. It was
rointed out that as all Of the local
German newspapers are owned ana
managed by American citizens the Ger
man Ambassador could not interfere
and any attempt on his part TO inhu-
ence their editorial policy would be re-
eented and cause an avalanche OF pro-
test.
"The reported criticism Of the poll
cies Of German-American newspapers
is news 70 me-" said Herman Ridder, OF
the New Yorker Staats-Zeitung." u
have not received such an order, and
consider it improbable that 1t Will be
sent"
Victor Ridder, Who during his
fathers illness is managing editor OF
the New Yorker Staats-Zeitung,
characterized the report as laughable
and improbable.
1--WE have not received such an order
end would pay no attention to it II We
had" he said.
Viereck Calls II Absurd.
George Sylvester Viereck, editor and
publisher of The Fntherland,' week
iy with a large circulation among Ger
mans and German Americans, has prob
ABLY more bitterly assailed the ad-
ministration's policy than any other
German-American editor IN the United
States. He said last night;
"If such an order had been sent out
bv the German Embassy ! would be
one OF the first to receive II. As a
matter Of fact, / have not heard any
thing about it. The idea that the Ger
man Ambassador should try 20 inhu-
ence or to 'muzzle' American editors is
too absurd for belief. Such an action
would be contrary TO all common sense
and would produce just the opposite
result from that for which 1t was In
tended"
C. r. Wolfram. editor OF "The New
Yorker Herold." refused 70 discuss the
report last night beyond stating that he
had not received or heard Of such an
order.
Worried Over Dernburg Successor.
Tn. question Of 8 successor TO Or.
Bernhard Dernburg as the head and
managing director OF the German prop
Uganda In this country is also worry
/ ing local Germans.
Ii is a foregone conclusion that the
propaganda, while II may become more
/ yelled and less aggressive, will con
/ unue along present lines. II was or
ganiZed and developed by DR.. Dern-
/ burg At great cost, and has assumed
such dimensions under his direction
that il covers not only every state In
the Union but also some Of the Cen
trail American countries.
An elaborate publicity system has
! been devised by DR.. Dernburg, and cI
/ perienced American publicity men are
in charge of the work Of disseminating
German news and counteracting, by
skilful use Of pertinent pro-Germar
stories, damaging reports which may
appear in American newspapers ant
periodicals. This work Is being dom
in suite Of Offices maintained at ~
Broadway. In addition TO this DR.
, Dernburg has written extensively OF
the subject OF the German cause. HI
clear. forcble and logical style hs
given him entire to the columns OF man.
American newspapers. lie has also sd
! d,oseod riyic bodies and large audi