Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-08
FRIENDSHIP TO j. s.
GERMANS THEME
Good Feeling Emphasized at
Dinner in Honor of Am
baSSador Gerard.
WORK OF ENVOY LAUDED

~ the Associated Press.
BERLIN. January s, by wireless to
Sayville.-The dinner given Saturday
night by the American Association Of
Commerce and Trade in Berlin in honor
Of James W. Gerard, the American
ambassador to Germany. who has just
returned to the German capital from
q visit to the United States. developed.
and apparently with intention. into
demonstration of the good feeling en-
tsrtained in the higher government
circles and banking and business
spheres toward the United States.
The guests included three ministers.
at least two ex-ministers, the vice
president of the reichstag, the heads
of Germany's big financial institutions
and other leaders in German public
life. David Wolf. president of the
American association. who presided,
was flanked on the right by Mr.. Gerard
and on the left by Relnhold Sydow.
Prussian minister of commerce. Next
TO Mr.. Gerard sat DIR. Karl Helfferich.
and then came Arthur Won Gwinner.
director Of the Deutsche Bank; DR..
Bernhard Dernburg. ex-secretary for
the colonies, and DR.. Hermann Paasche,
vice president of the reichstag, while
beyond Minister Syuow were Public G.
Grew. secretary Of the American en-
the colonies: John B. Jackson. former
American minister to the Balkan states,
and Adolf Wermuth. lord mayor OF
Berlin. In all IT'S guests, about equally
mans, were present
Toasts to President and Emperor.
The usual toasts to Emperor William
and President Wilson were drunk
standing. President Wolf introduced
the speakers of the evening, who were
Vice Chancellor Helfferich, Director
Won Gwinner and Mr.. Gerard. The am
basador's speech was informal and
avoided touching contentious topics, but
he mentioned the large contributions
now being received from America for
the relief of German widows and or
phans and for other non-partisan works
of mercy.
Director Won Gwinner. too. did not
speak from manuscript. but DIR. Helf-
ferich. speaking as the representative
of Chancellor Won Bethman Hollweg,
delivered a set address which was fol-
lowed with the closest attention by the
guests.
A large number Of the leading per-
sonages of Germany, says the Overseas
News Agency. were present at the din
ner given In honor of James W. Gerard,
the American ambassador to Germany.
by the American Association of Com
merce and Trade of Berlin. The diners
were addressed by Ami ssador Gerard,
by Vice Chancellor Helferich. by For
eign Secretary Zimmerman and by
Arthur Won Gwinner. the director Of
the Deutsche Bank. and in all the
speeches the cordial relationships exist
ing between the governments of the
United States and Germany were en-
phasixed.
'Likens Envoy to Peace Dove.
Ambassador Gerard. who was likened
by Director Won Gwinner to the peace
dove of Noah's ark" is quoted by the
Overseas News Agency as saying that
never since the beginning Of the war
have relations betwee:. Germany and
the United States been so cordial" and
that he had brought back an olive
branch" from President Wilson.
Vice Chancellor Helfferich said he
was pleased to know that Ambassador
Gerard had visited the United States
where he had an opportunity of de-
scrfbing the real state of affairs in Ger
many, and Foreign Minister Zimmer-
mann declared he felt sure the friend
ly and trustful relations between both
countries as enunciated by Mr.. Gerard
Will continue"
telegram expressing the "sincerest
wishes OF the association in this
crucial time" was sent to President
Wilson. and another message was for
warded to Emperor William.
Criticizes Financial Methods.
Considerable interest was shown in
the remarks made by Arthur Won Gwin-
ner. director of the Deutsche Bank, in
regard to the exchange situation. Herr
Won Gwinner recalled the vicissitudes
of Spanish exchange during the Span
fsh-America nwar, when ii fell so Der
cent He also spoke Of the low state of
American money and credit during and
after the civil war. and asked whether
there was any reason to doubt that the
credit and obligations of a great. in
dustrious and capable people like the
Germans would recover in like manner
once the strain Of this war had passed.
He recalled that during the American
struggle American bonds had touched
81 in Frankfort, and that American
paper money had been issued with
nothing behind IL but the credit of the
country. Germany's bonds on the other
hand, he said. had touched no such low
point. and her paper was intrinsically
better. as II was based. to a legal one
third OF its value, on gold stock in the
Reichsbank. We had the same reason
for putting out paper as you." he de-
ciared. namely, stern necessity"
He added that he believed Germany
had put out far too much. and therefore
at the Reichsbank we have double the
amount Of gold there is in the Bank of
England. We issued far more paper
than We should have" he repeated.
but we have not broken the charter
OF the Reichsbank as the English have
the charter of the Bank of England
We have far too many land bank GER