The Washington times., 1917-05-04
BERNSTORFF MAY Be
FOREIGN SECRETARY
Copenhagen Says He Will Try to
Make Peace With U. 5.
HK ARTHUR e. MANN.

BY ARTHUR E. MANN.
COPENHAGEN, May 4. - Either
Germany's war managers are play
ing their shrewdest publicity game
since the war began, for the
purpose of causing a relaxation OF
Americas war preparations-or Ger
many is actually beset by the worst
internal dissensions any belligerent
has been compelled to deal with in
that time.
Private advices today from sources
which appeared to be most authentic,
emphasized the seriousness OF this
situation in Germany and Austria and
carried the broad hint that one solu-
tion may be the appointment Of Count
Johann Won Bernstorff, former Ger
man ambassador to America, as sue
cessor to Foreign Minister Alfred
Zimmerman
The appointment would be with the
specific idea that Bernstorff attempt
a reconciliation with the United
States.
May BE Deep Game.
The fact that such information
came through seemingly authentic
channels and was accompanied by
vast amount of other reports Of dis
sensions, permits two conclusions.
One may be that Germany is actually
sorely tried. The other that she is
playing a deep Teutonic game-the
idea being to lull America into belief
that dissolution of Germany may be
near, that conditions in the empire
indicate no necessity for much war
preparation. Such a move would be
in line with other plays for time
which Germany has regularly prac-
ticed. The news here from Germany
indicates the near approach Of
crisis in the central empires. This
news summarizes as follows:
Bad feeling is growing between
Prussia and Austria Emperor Karl
is spurred on to friction with Ger
many by Hungary's open discomfort.
Hungary's ruling classes are said to
be fearful OF anarchy unless some
hope OF peace is shown to her people.
Hamburg Opposes U-Boats.
there is a growing feeling in Ger
many that the submarine warfare has
not been productive of the results
anticipated. The city OF Hamburg,
with its vast shipping industries, is
said now to be approving the course
of the foreign office in opposing the
submarine war at the time that ruth
1essness was first agitated. Its
approval was based on the belief that
such a course had only succeeded in
Increasing the indemnities which
Germany must later pay and in draw
ing America into the conflict. Ger
many's commercial prospects, II was
held, have been injured for years to
come. Retention Of the Belgian city
of Antwerp by Germany ls another
thing feared by Hamburg, resulting
in the well defined demand by ship
ping Industries that there be no an
nexation Of territory by Germany,
and moreover that Germany so an
nounce right now.
Since revelation Of the Zimmerman
scheme to align Mexico and Japan
with Germany against the United
States, opposition to the foreign min
lister has increased. The Liberals
are still ostensibly supporting him,
however, probably because he is the
only non-iunker in office in Germany.
On the other hand, proponents OF
Bernstorf point out that his COM
plete familiarity with America and
Americans is something for which
there is desperate need in the foreign
office. Moreover, II is held, Bern
stOrf might very effectively work for
adjustment OF Americas quarrel with
Germany.
Now Realize Their Error.
German officials are now said to
realize how completely they were
wrong in estimating America. The
hardest blow OF all comes in their
realization that America intends to
night a real and not a paper war. No
of1cial thought she would actually
hght- Zimmerman is blamed for not
having known that America would go
the limit. Bernstorff is figured as
likely to correct this mistake by re-
storing German-American relations.
But not alone in actual war strength
is America now beginning to be fear
ed IN Germany. The war conferences
are apprehensive that the great
weight of American democracy
thrown into the balance against Ger
mapy may result in vast strengthen
ing of the democratic peace party.
1t Is reputed that this effort to
strengthen the democratic peace move
is already being exerted from Amer
lea on Hungary. There are other re-
ports which some way or other elude
the censor and turn up here as evil
dence of dissension in the central en-
pires. The regularity with which
they arrive in the face OF the most
stringent censorship Germany has
ever had in force may possibly indi-
cate deliberate circulation of such
reports by the government. Or, IL may
show such an accumulation OF dis
sensions that even a steel-bound censor
ship cannot conceal them.