Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-07
BERNSToRFE DECLARES
STORY IL gTN'rn IL

WASHINGTON. October 6.-Rankins
officials of the State Department said
to-day they had no information to in
dtcate that Ambassador Gerard is
bringing home request from Ger
many that the United states intercede
TO end the European war, and were in
clincd not to believe the story. Count
Won BernStorf. the German ambas-
sador, declared he knew positively that
II was untrue
While the department, does not be-
lieve MIR. Gerard would accent so i'm
portant "a mission without notifying
his government, it is realized that
available means Of communicate tion he
tween Washington and Berlin are very
hazardous where delicate subjects are
involved The ambassador. it is felt
might he especially reluctant TO COM
municatr with tho department regard
ing matter as important as a pcace
proposal. with the risk that his mes
sascs might fan into the hands OF the
allies.
II was declared, on the other
hand. that the Washington government
would have knowledge OF such a mis-
sion If authentic word of 1t had reached
amy one in the United States.
The German ambassador would not
discuss the story. beyond saying it was
untrue, hut he was very emphatic i'm
his declaration that he had informa-
tion positively disproving it,
officials AT the State Department to-
day said that only a specific request
for mediation by one of the bcllirer-
cnts would bring about any effort by
this country TO effect II European
peace
There is growing conviction among
some officials that military peace,
brought about by almost direct ne
gotiations between the bellicercnts.
will he the possible outcome OF the
war Roth groups of belligerents are
thought TO be opposed to negotiations
by third party.
PROMINENT EINANCIER
RESPONSIBLE FOE -rORY
Especial TO The Times Dispatch,
NEW YORK, October G.--Thc presi-
dent of one of the largest institutions
in the financial district said to-day that
Germany had asked Ambassador Gerard
to present a letter to President Will
! son asking his good Offices in bring
| ing about peace.
lie further stated that the ambas-
s"dor is now the bearer of this letter.
| and would present il to the President
Immediately upon his arrival here. MIR
| Gerard is Il passenger on the E'rcdcrick
VIII. which - due on Tuesday
Questioned as To the source of his
| information. the nnancicr said:
Il would not make this statement il
| ! were not absolutely sure of my facts
| The news has come to me from the
| most authoritative sources Imaginable.
| I know that Germany has requested the
| President to act. | know that the am
| bassador is hearing Germany's over
| lures. This is all can say for the
present"
The standing of the financicr is so
| unimpcachahlc. and his source of news
so authoritative, that Wall Street cred
| tied the statement without question.
| Immediately there was n sharp break
| in the so-callcd war stocks.
| The statement caused n tremendous
| stir. 1t engaged the attention not only
| of the financial district. but Of big
business men in all parts of the city.
| Within an hour after the statement
| was issued official Washington took
| heed of it. DcnialS were tn be expected
! in the absence of any official COM
munication that could he made public.
| These denials were instantly forthcom-
ing.
! STATEMENT DICOMES
| GENERALLY CREDITED
| But in spite of Washington's attitude.
| the statement became more generally
| credited. Particular Significance was
| attached to the stories cmanating from
| Washington only the night before to
| the effect that no peace proposals were
| in contemplation by this government.
| Also Il new significance became at
| tachcd to the recent utteranccs of Lloyd
| George. the British War Minister. in
which he sounded what. in the cr-\
| cumstanres. seemed like a timely note
| OF warning. Any attempt on the part
| of neutrais to bring about mediation
| at this particular juncture. the War
| Continued on Second Page.)