The Washington times., 1917-09-27

llOHS 70 De usSu' pEOOdoAJ' ooNSN 1850
own friends.
said to the chancellor: There are
Belgians employed In making shells
contrary to all rules Of war and The
Hague conventions"
He said! II do not believe It
said: MY automobile Is at the door
can take you to where thirty Belgians
are working on the manufacture Of
shells In four minutes"
But he did not md time to go.
Americans must understand that the
Germans will stop at nothing to win
this war, and that the only thing they
respect Is force
Van JagoW Falls.
While was in America, Won Jagow
had fallen, as had been predicted by his
enemies in Berlin, and had given place
to Zimmerman.
I remained e day in Copenhagen In or
der to arrange for the transportation to
Germany Of the three tons Of food which
I had brought from New York and also
in order to lunch with Count RantEau,
the German minister. a most able diplo-
mat
Therefore, the Presidents peace note
arrived in Berlin just ahead Of me
and was delivered by Mr.. Grew few
hours before my arrival. Joseph c.
Grew, Of Boston, was next in, COM
mand during all my stay in Berlin.
He most ably carried on the work OF
the embassy during my absence on the
trip to America in the autumn OF 1915
and at all times was OF the greatest
assistance to me. I hope to see him
go far in his career.
This note was dated December IS,
IQIG ~ hNy ha CaCra-
tary of State to the American am
bassadors at the capitals OF the bel
ligerent power. 1t commenced as
follows: = !,
tHThe President directs me to send
you the following communication to
be presented Immediately to the min
lister of foreign affairs OF the govern
ment TO which you are accredited.
THE President OF the United States
has instructed me to suggest to the
(here is inserted a designation of the
government addressed) a course Of
action in regard to the present war
which he hopes that the government
will take under consideration as sug-
gested in the most friendly spirit"
etc.
Peace Long in Mind.
In the note which was sent to the
central powers 1t was stated:
THE suggestion which am in
structed to make the President has
long had It in mind to offer. He is
somewhat embarrassed to offer It at
this particular time because II may
now seem to have been prompted by
a desire to play part in connection
with the recent overtures OF the cen
tral powers"
OF course, the President thus re-
ferred to the address made by Beth
mAnn-Hollweg in the Reichstag in
December in which, after reviewing
generally the military situation, the
chancellor said:
''In a deep moral and religious
sense OF duty toward this nation, and
beyond II toward humanity, the EN-
peror now considers that the moment
has come for official action toward
peace. His majesty. therefore, in COM
plete harmony and in common with
our allies, decided to propose to the
hostile powers to enter peace negc-
tiations."
And the chancellor continued, say
ing that a note to this effect had
been transmitted that morning TO
all hostile powers through the repre-
VI pONtlS 10 "nOEn
the interests and rights of Germany
in the enemy states had been entrust-
ed and that, therefore, the represen-
tatives OF Spain, the United States
and Switzerland had been asked to
forward the note.
Message To Generals.
Coincidentally with this speech Of
the chancellor's, which was December
u, 1915, the Emperor sent a mes
sage to the commanding generals
reading as follows:
Soldiers: In agreement with the
sovereigns of my allies and with the
consciousness OF victory, ! have made
an offer OF peace to the enemy.
whether It will be accepted is still
uncertain. Until that moment arrives
you will fight on"
return to the Presidents note.
The President suggested that
early occasion be sought to call out
from all the nations now at war an
avowal of their respective views as
to the terms upon which the war
might be concluded, and the arrange
ments which would be deemed salts
factory as a guarantee against its
renewal.
He called the attention of the world
to the fact that. according to the
statements OF the statesmen of the
belllgerent powers. the objects which
all sides had in mind seemed to be the
same. And the President finally said
that he was not proposing peace or
even offering mediation. but merely
that soundings be taken in
in order that all nations might know
how near the haven of peace might
be for which all mankind longed.
Shortly after the publication Of this
note Secretary Lansing gave an In
terview To the representatives Of the
American press In which he stated
that America was very near war
This Interview he later explained.
As soon as possible after my re-
turn TO Berlin had interviews with