The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-03-13
GERARD BRINGS
TREATY DRAFT
To Show Wilson Just What
Germans Wanted Him
to Sign.
ON WAY FROM KEY WEST
Ambassador and Party Much
Relieved at Being on U. $.
Soil Again.

KEY WEST, Fla, March 1:.--As Jane.
W. Gerard stepped from the Havana
Key West boat this evening to board hi.
train for Washington, one OF the officer.
of the ship offered to relieve him Of the
burden Of despatch bag which swung
/ ny straps from his shoulder. Mr.
/ Gerard shook his head. NO" From tine
day he left Berlin and in all the Jour.
/ neyings through Switzerland. Franc,
and Spain. inland travel and sea travel
nobody except Mr.. Gerard has handled
! that bag.
1t has been with him waking and
sleeping. He alone knows all that II
/ contains In the way Of documents and
memoranda for the Presidents private
eye. but one of the papers so carefully
guarded Is the German draft of the old
Trussian treaty which the German
| Foreign Office was so determined that
| he should sign. "A determination which hs
f., met with the defiant statement to Coun,
Montgelas. You will freeze in hel! be.
/ fore l sign that paper"
Mr.. Gerard retained possession Of this
| interesting document. In the anxious
feriod OF waiting before he was released
| on February 10 he burned many Of his
private papers and Also many official
documents which he did not desire. to
nave the Germans get. but he retained
the draft of the proposed amended
treaty so the President could see for
himself how far the German Govern
inent dared venture.
Efforts Of German secret agents "a
steal the despatch bag or ransack II
were anticipated and Mr.. Gerard never
permitted any one except himself to
handle it.
Mr.. Gerard expressed much interest in
the international situation resulting from
the zimmerman note and eagerly ac-
cepted copies OF newspapers containing
dispatches regarding it. Asked for a
statement on the subject. he replied that
he had been silent for seven thousand
miles and would continue so until reach
ing Washington
wOald Not Re Mayor.
As far as is known the only statement
he made to-day was TO the effect that he
would not accept the candidacy for
Mayor OF New York city IL that should
be offered him. Ii was intimated by one
of his travelling companions that he
looked with more favor on the sugyes-
ton OF nomination for Governor.
Mr.. Gerards long period of strain and
anxiety ended this evening when he set
ABOARD the train that was to carry him
to Washington. He felt. OF course, that
his journey was practically ended when
ne reached Havana. and that danger
from German sources was virtually over {;
out II was really not until tonight that
he dismissed all apprehension.
The Americans who travelled from
Berlin with Mr.. Gerard understood his
state Of mind and sympathized with It.
Ihey repeat with the utmost emphasis
that the Germans had come to hate him
simply because he was the living sym
Dol OF American interference with Ger
man policies OF fr:shtfulness and be-
cause he had labored SO earnestly in
behalf Of British prisoners.
Understood the Feeling.
The notion had gotten about in Ger
many that Mr. Gerard detested Ger
man war methods and that he was ex-
tremely pro-Ally. None understood bet
ter than Mr.. Gerard how strongly the
Germans d!sliked him and that was one
or the reasons he expected trouble at
their hands before. he got back to the
United states. Close companions OF the
returned Ambassador say that ne became
convinced that Germany would go to
any lengths 20 attain her ends and he
had come to the pass where he refused
TO trust the Germans FOR anything.
German spies in Switzerland and in
spain annoyed him. There was reason
r. believe German spies In Havana were
trailing him and try to overhcar his
conversations with Cubar officials and
with William Z. Gonzales. the American
Minister 70 Cuba. The whole business
was eXaspersting to a man whose ex-
perences in Berlin had been so nerve
wreckng and who hal formed an even
more sinister opinion OF the German at
titude toward America than is compre-
hended in this country.
But the end OF the anxiety and sus-
pense came tonight when the Florida
East Coast Line train. made up OF two
sections because Of extra traffic brought
by the Gerard party. left Key West for
Washington at 80 r. NJ
Mr.. Gerard sailed from Havana AZ
1880 4. NJ to-day with Mrs Gerard.
members Of the embassy stafr American
Consular agents withdrawn from Ger
many and newspaper correspondents
and other American citizens who had
been with him since the departure
from Germany. The American Minister
to Cuba escorted him to the Governor
Cobb. the Key West boat. and Cuban
officials smoothed all routine matters,
1t is understood Mr. Gerard will have
a talk with the President on Wednesday
evening. and again on the following day.
at which he will present a detailed re-
port OF the treatment he received from
German officials. OF his observations OF
the real German feeling toward the
United States and Of the actual condi.
tions that exist In Germany TODAY
economic and military.