The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-13
German Newspapers Struggle
to Explain for Kaiser.
Tall Sidestepping Over Message
Kaiser Sent Wilson.
GERARD HAS GOODS ON EN-
Admit He Visited Kaiser and
Submitted Mediation Plan.
Emperor Answered England
Promised To Remain Neutral.

Berlin Aug 13.-Via Amsterdam
The semi Official Nord Deutsche ALL
genuine Zeitung denies the existence
of the telegram alleged by James W.
Gerard, the former American ambas-
sador at Berlin to have been sent by
Emperor william to President Wilson
in August 1914, when the German
emperor IS quoted as having asserted
that Belgium's neutrality had to be
violated by Germany on strategical
grounds
THE alleged telegram ghich has
reached Berlin by way of Switzerland,
has the emperor saying King George
sent him word thru the emperor's
brother, Prince Henry, that Great
Britain would remain neutral if war
broke out on the continent involving
Germany, France, Austria and Rus
sia," etc.
The Nord Deutsche Allgeineine Zeit-
ung says:
I'VE are in a position to declare
that no such telegram from the en-
peror exists 1t is true that Mr.. Ger
ard was given an audience on August
| 10. 1914, in order to give him an OPP
portunity of placing President Will
| sons offer of mediation before the
emperor.
1.-THE presidents personal message
to the emperor read as from the Off
cial head of one of the powers which
signed The Hague convention, and
said:
Quote Wilson's Message.
CT feel it to be my right and my
| duty in accordance with Article III
! of the convention to declare to you
| in a spirit of truest friendship that
! would welcome any opportunity to act
| in the interests of European peace
whether now or at any other time that
might be better fitted to render you
and all concerned . services which
would give me satisfaction and joy.
This proposal was made at the
time when the armies of both sides
| had already crossed the frontier and
when it seemed out of the question to
| call halt to events. The emperor
could therefore, only have his thanks
| conveyed to President Wilson for his
offer and thereby remark that while
the present moment was too early for
! mediation by the neutral powers. the
presidents friendly proposal might
later be returned to.
THE emperor then conversed for
some time further with Mr. Gerard and
| explained to him the events that led
up to the outbreak of the war. The
| emperor particularly pointed out the
ambiguous and disloyal attitude of
! Great Britain which had destroyed all
hope of a peaceful agreement.
| Didn't Intend 1t for Wilson?
| Mr.. Gerard's statements in his
/ memoirs appear to be reproduction
! of this conversation. If the press in
enemy countries sees revelations in
them that only shows they are ignor-
/ ant of the German white book which
in essence sets forth the same events.
POSSIBLY during the conversation
the.emperor wrote a memorandum for
! baS 90 he
announce anything to Washington
that would be incorrect.
I'm that case it would be matter
of record destined to assist Mr.. Ger
ards memory but it would not be a
communication from the emperor to
President Wilson"
The Cologne Gazette says there is no
apparent reason to doubt the genuine
ness of the emperor's telegram as
published by Mr. Gerard The news
paper says it cannot see how its con-
tents can serve as fresh proof of Ger
many's guilt, as it only gives new evil
dence of the cunning and ambiguous
policy followed by Great Britain in
the days prior to outbreak of the war.
Influence Peace Conference.
The newspaper further sees in the
| Gerard revelations another move in a
plan to exploit the Stockholm confer
ence in favor of the entente by put
ting the question of respo ,sibility for
the outbreak of the war and then
pressing the Socialists into the posi-
ton of being the accused parties
The Neueste Nachrichten OF Nun
ich, Bavaria, says it does not matter
whether the emperor's message to
Wilson is authentic, as it only proves
the emperor's love of peace. But
quite another thing, the newspaper
says, is the use of the entente press
and Geographic agency are making of
Mr.. Gerards book "as it is great
effort made again to represent Ger
many as being responsible FOR the
war"
The Neueste Nachrichten complains
that the entente has been given a four
days start with its foreign press while
the Berlin government now promises
a belated explanation, and adds:
"Our diplomacy in the days of the
telephone always seems to work at
= the pace of the mail COACH
The Lokal Anzeiger. commenting on
the publication of the alleged tele-
gram, says:
Argument Futile.
Mr. Gerard's comments on this
alleged telegram of the emperor at
tempt to prove that no greater mis-
fortune could have happened to the
world, including the new world, than
England's non-participation in the
war. It is futile to argue against
such stupidity. The very imperial
document which Mr.. Gerard publishes
proves conclusively what influence
worked with might and main in July
1914. to prevent war"
S1z.40 New Record at Chicago.
VI Chicago, Aug. 13--Goo6 to choice
. touched Of n