New Britain herald., 1917-09-01
bETHMANN DENIES
 GERARD STATEMENT
Declares Former Ambassador Is
 Using Imagination Freely

Berlin,, Sept. 1, Via London.-Dr. von Bethmann Hollweg, the former Imperial German chancellor. asserted yesterday that it was his impression that James w. Gerard, former am- bassador to Germany, in writing his revelations of Germany's war aims, gave a somewhat free rein to his imagination. The statement Of the former Chancellor was the result ol his reading in a London newspaper MT. Gerard's version of a conVersatlon with him last January. in which It was alleged that Germany's peace terms were set forth.
 "In his published report of this par ticular conversation" Dr. von Beth- mann Hollweg told The Associated Press, MT. Gerard attributed utter ances to me which may have been made in other quarters in Germany. and to which he frequently referred in the progress of our conversation, but which were not my own. This ap- plies especially to his reference to Germany's plans to take possession of the Belgian ports and railways and to establish military and commercial domination over that country.
 1T never unfolded such German war aims to MT. Gerard. In the course or my several conversations with him, as also in our discussion last January, l invariably referred to my Relchstag speeches, in which I stated that Ger many would exact positive guarantees that Belgian territory and politics would not in the future be exploited as a menacing factor against us. d1d not make any statement as to the nature of these guarantees.
 Tn the progress of our conversation MT. Gerard suggested that the realiza- ton of far-reaching aspirations in Bel gium would give King Albert merely sham authority and asked whether 1t would not be better for Germany to forego such plans and, instead of them, endeavor to acquire IAiege, which MT. Gerard thought possible of achievement.
 Perhaps this suggestion was bait, intended to provoke reply from me. If so, the attempt failed. In all my discussions with the ambassador on this subject, I referred to my public utterances in which I emphasized that I was endeavoring to procure a, peace that would permit us to lie in cordial and neighborly relations with Belgium.
 MT. Gerard's memory would seem also to have served him faultily when he wrote down what was said about Russia. He dealt but super f1cially with Germany's eastern war aims observing that the United States interest in this direction was very limited and that Germany un- doubtedly would have a free hand there. For Rumania and Serbia he also revealed very slender sympathy. MT. Gerard did not obtain out of my mouth any of the statements concern ing these countries which he attrl- butes to me-
 The former chancellor then ob- served:
 When diplomats undertake to ex- ploit their official career for journal istic purposes they are very apt to be misled into putting into the mouths of foreign statesmen utter ances which either are the, creation of an ample imagination or are based on faulty memory. Discussion of po- litical opinions Is bound to be tran story and fleeting"
 The former chancellor then touched upon what he considered the ethics of MT. Gerard's disclosures as compared with the European idea
 You Americans are an impetuous people," he said. You do not seem to permit even your retiring diplo- mats to observe the traditional si- lence, nor have you the patience to abide the post-m ortem publication of their memoirs. Sir Edward Goschen
 former British ambassador to Ger many and Austria) or Jules Cambon former French ambassador to Ger many, the United States and Spain) probably would excel MT. Gerard in revelations of entertaining diplomatic history and gossip. Count von Bern storff, former German ambassador to the United States), too, I amagine, might startle Us with the diary of his Washington experiences.
 "1n Europe, however, it would seem that publication of euch mat ters, by common consent, is post poned to a later period, when judg- ments are both calmer and more mature. MT. Gerard, however, may hold the special license conferred by 'shirtsleeve' diplomacy, as you call 1t. and I shall not dispute his prerog- atives. But he must not give his imagination too free rein."
 Away from the turbulent political arena, the former chancellor is now enjoying harvest time on his estate at Hoenfino. Province of Branden- burg, twn hours by rail from Berlin During his conversation with the cor respondent be begged off from talk ing politics, but assured the corre- spondent that the potato crop at Ho- henflno was most excellent.
 RIGA THREATENED