The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-03-05
ROOSEVELT'S ULTIMATUM
BROUGHT KAISER TO HIS
KNEES, SAYS BIOGRAPFIER

It's height, he summoned to the White
HOnse Doctor Holleben, the German
ambassador, and told him that unless
Germany consented to nrbitrate, the
American squadron under Admiral
Dewey would be given orders by noon
ten days later, to proceed TO tho Ven
r7rlt an COlst and prevent any taking
possession of Venezuelan territory.
Doctor Holleben began to protest that
his imperial master. having once re-
fused to Rrbltrate. could not change
his mind.
1.-THE president said that he was not
arguing the question, because argu-
r1ents had already been gone over
until no useful purpose would be
served by repeating them; he was sins
ply giving information which the am
hassador might think II important to
transmit to Berlin.
"a week passed. Then Doctor Holle-
ben called again on the president, but
said NJ hing Of the Venezuelan mat
ter. When he rose to go, the presi-
dent asked him about It, and when he
stated that he had received nothing
from his government, the president
informed him in substance, that, In
view of this fact, Admiral Dewey
would be instructed to sail a day
earlier than he, the president, had
originally mentioned.
Much perturbed, the ambassador
protested; the president informed
him that not a stroke Of pen had
been put on paper; that IL the em-
peror would agree to arbitrate. he.
the president. would heartily praise
him for such action and would treat
It as taken on German initiattve; but
that within forty-eight hours there
r1ust be an offer to arbltrate or Dewey
would sail with the orders indicated.
Within thirty-slx hours Doctor Holle-
ben returned 10 the White House and
announced to President Roosevelt that
a dispatch had Just come from Ber-
lin. saying that the kaiser would ar
bitrate. Neither Admiral Dewey (who
with an American fleet was then ma
neuverIng in the West IndIesl nor any
one else knew OF the step that was
to be taken: the naval authorities
were merely required to be in readi-
ness, but were not told what for.
ION tho announcement that Ger
many had consented to arbltrate. the
president publicly compllmented the
kaiser ON being so staunch an aayo-
cate OF arbitration.
"The humor of this was probably
relished more in tho White House than
In the palace at Berlin. The kaiser
suggested that the president should
act as arbiter, and Mr. Roosevelt was
ready to serve; but Mr.. Hay dIssuaded
him. Mr. Hay had permitted Herbert
NV. Bowen, American minister TO VEN
ezue1a to act as arbitrator for the
country, and Mr.. Bowen regarded 1t
us improper that the United States,
which also had claims against Vene-
zuela, should sit In Judgment on the
case.
.tMr. Hay, DESTROYS of validating
The Hague tribunal, saw further ad-
vantage in referring to 1t this very
important contention. The president
acquiesced, therefore, and Yene2uela's
claims went to The Hague for arbi-
lttration.
Blot ON Rngland's Record.
'TEngland and Italy. Germany's
partners In the naval expedition, glad
lily complied. England, we presume,
had never intended that its half al1f-
ance with Germany would bring 1t
into open rupture with the United
States. Although. its pact was kept
as secret as possible at home, ink
lltngs Of 1t leaked out. and 1t has since
been esteemed, by those who know the
details, one Of the least creditable
items in Lord sallsbury's foreign poll
licy. Whether he or Mr.. Balfour orig
iinated 1t, the friends OF neither have
cared to extol 1t, or. indeed. TO let It's
details be generally known.
In q letter to- "a private correspond
lent, Secretary Hay takes parting
shot at the Venezuelan settlements
r. "Thoy (the German govern
menD are very much preoccrl7s
pied in regard to our attitude, Z
and a communique recently APP
pearcd In the Berlin papers indi-
eating that the negotiations would
have gone on better but for our
interference. We. have not inter-
fered. except In using what good
Offices we could dispose otto in-
duce ell parties to come to
speedy and honorable settlement.
and in this we have been. ] think
erninentIy successful ] think the
thing that rankles most in the
German official mind is what
Bowen said TO sternburg Very
well, 7 will pay the money which
s you demand, because am not IN