Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-02-16
BERNSTORFF BLUE
AS HE WAITED FOR
BIG LINER TO SAIL
whether | Get Home or Not
Does Not Make Much Diff
ference" Says Ambassador
on Eve of Departure

iiAiG SAts1ihoAiih
Frederk VIII. carrying Count Won
Bernstorff left her pier here today
shortly after 4 O'Clock and started on
her voyage
Shrin blasts from the whistles of
river craft. resoundded as the ship got
under way and took a course which
would circle her around the State of
Liberty.
The crews of the great German lin
ers tied up here climbed on the rails
and waved a farewell to their depart
ing compatriot. On American ships Of
ficers and crews were on the decks, and
along the shore hundreds of sightseers
watched the vessels swing down the
river
The former German ambassador and
his party stood at one of the rails of
tn elmer and waved responses to the
farewell demonstration.
Among the first persons to leave the
Frederick VII was Dr. Paul Ritter,
Swiss minister who has charge of Ger
many's affairs in this country. DR.. Ritz
ter said his visit was of no particular
Importance. his mission being solely to
discuss minor embassy affairs.
Through Dudley Field Malone, collec-
tor of the port of New York, Count
Bernstorff sent ashore the following
signed message:
IT cannot refrain from last express
sion to the American people for the
wealth of flowers and gifts sent to the
countess and myself. 1T is hard to tell
of the good will sent us both. No ex-
preston of gratitude would be adequate
to speak an affectionate farwell."
Prior to his arrival in Hoboken
the former ambassador outlined to
a representative of the Associated Press
his personal views regarding the war,
the possibility of the United States be-
ing drawn into il, and the doubts he
held regarding his reaching home safe
~.
You ask me-" said Count Won Bern
storff. about my trip. Will 1 get home
all right? Well, you never can tell
OF course we will get through the Brit
ish and French blockade and there should
be no danger from our own submarines
1 guess they will know we are coming
and will let us alone even if they should
happen to see us.
However, whether get home or not
does ont really make much difference
81 have had my fun; 1 have had my
play at politics; have enjoyed myself
and I am no longer as young as / once
was The only danger l can see that is
attache to this trip is that we may
strike a mine
OF course / shall go directly to Berlin
as soon as I arrive in Germany. Maybe
they will findI something for me TO do,
and maybe they wont.
1T is quite probable that my ofi-
cial career is finished. ! may retire for
good L have been turned out by your
government for something over which
[ had no control and no blame attaches
to me personally. Perhaps this is good
q
German and my plans may be changed
by the wishes of my government"
Several times in the days lmmedl-
ateIy following the severance of diplo-
matte relations the former ambassador
indicated his belief that it was only
question of hours before some overt. act
would bring about hostilities.
AS the days passed, however, the
former ambassador became more ana
more optimistic, finally saying:
Maybe it is possible that war may
he averted The president Is represent
ed in the newspapers as having made 1t
clear that the next time he went 20
congress it would not be to- ask war
but in connection with protection 10
American shipping. What does that
mean? To me personally that could
mean but one thing, namely, the con-
voying of ships"
And Count Won Bernstorff does not
believe that ships conveyed would be
attacked although he feels a great ele-
ment of danger is attached to such a
procedure. Personally, the former am
bassador feels that many Americans
have not always been strictly neutral
You have shipped your goods to the
allies because they have command of
the seas" he said. "If conditions had
been reversed and the German navy in
stead of the British, had that command,
you would have shipped your goods to
us. Naturally, any persons sympathies
are where he does business.
Let us consider humanity and inter
national law. There has been a cry
against Germany on the ground that we
have violated the rights of the former
and the principles of the latter
us it not a violation of the right of
humanity for the British to try to starve
out the non-combatant popuIation-our
women and our German babies? There
is nothing human inthat. Are not the
principles of international law being
violated every hour by the British? Even
your government, in a most excellent
note. has declared the British blockade
of Germany to be illegal and indefensi-
BILE Il said may be it was possible for
war to be averted. OF course, you must
understand that is conditional upon Ger
many being able to bring the entente TO
;ts knees before anything happens to in
volve the United States. The subma-
rine campaign is bound to increase in in
tensity as the weather gets warmer"
The former ambassador was asked
wether he thought the warning contained
in the German note announcing the new
submarine policy which was directly re-
sponsible for the severance of diplo-
matte relations would serve to keep
Americans out of the danger zones. Ha
replied hopefully:
IF il only doesi Then everything
will be all right. If no Americans are
killed there will be no war. l hope that
war can he averted.
"Will L ever come back TO the United
States?" 1 canont say about that Ger
tainly, shall never be Ambassador here
again. That has never been done in the
history of diplomacy. But I may come
back to attend a peace conference.
do not know whether / fiatter myself,
but / do believe that l am not disliked
by people here Certainly l have done
everything within the power of mortal
man TO keep what has happened from
happening. But there were some things
L could not do.
During the last days of my stay
have received hundreds upon hundreds Of
letters from people all over this country.