Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-01
SAYS GERARD GIVES FREE
REIN TO HIS IMAGINATION
Former Chancellor Won Bethmann.
Hoiiwes Denies Utterances At
tributed to Him.
NEVER UNFoLDED WAR AIMS
declares Ex-Ambassador to Germany
is Served Faulty by Memory in
quoting Alleged Conversations.
Questions Ethics of Revelations.
tBy Associated Press.l

BERLIN August 80 (via London.
August 3D.-Dr Won Bethmann-HoII.
veg. the former imperial tChanceIIor.
'o-oay asserted that It was his i'm
preston that James w. Gerard. former
ambassador to Germany. in writing his
revelations OF Germany'sg war alma
gave somewhat free rein to his
imagination. The statement of the
former Chancellor was the result OF
his reading In London newspaper
MT Gerard's version of a conv.rsation
with him last January. In which 4,
was alleged that Germany's peace
terms were set forth.
In his published report Of this par.
ticuiar conversation" DR.. Won Beths
mann Hollweg told the Associated
l'ress today. mir. Gerard attributes,
utterances TO me which may have been
made in other quarters in Germany.
and to which he frequently referreo
in the progress OF our conversation
but which were not my own. This
applies especially to his reference to
Germany's alleged intentions to seize
LieEe and Eamur. and OF Germany's
plans to take possession of the Bel
Gian ports and railways and to estab-
lish military and commercial domina-
tion over that country
Il never unfolded such German war
aims. to Mr.. Gerard. In the. course
OF my several conversations with him,
stated that Germany would exact
positive guarantees that Belgian ter
ritory and policies would no, In the
future be exploited as a menaclng fac
tor against US.
DID NOT DITE AT BAIT
HE SAYS GERARD SET
In the progress of our conversation.
Mr.. Gerard suggested that the realiza-
ton OF far-reachinG aspirations In Bel
GUM would give King Albert merely
sham authority, and asked whether
IT would not be better for Germany to
forego such plans and instead of them
endeavor to acquire Liege. which Mr..
Gerard thought possible of achieve
ment.
Perhaps this suggestion was u bait.
intended to provoke reply from me-
II SO. the attempt failed.
mt. Gerards memory would seem
also to have served him faulty when
he wrote down what was said about
Russia. He dealt but supericIally
with Germany's eastern war aims OBJ
serving that the United States inter-
est In this direction was very limited,
and that Germany undoubtedly would
have free hand there. For Rou-
mania and Serbia he also revealed very
slight sympathy. Mr.. Gerard did not
obtain out OF my mouth any Of the
statements concerning these countries
which he attributes to mer
The former chancellor then touched
upon what he regarded as the ethics
OF Mr.. Gerards disclosures as COM
pared with the European, idea.
You Americans are an impetuous
people" he said. You do not seem
to permit even your retiring Diplomats
to observe the traditional silence. nor
have you the patience TO abide the
post-mortem publication OF their me-
moirs.
In Europe. however. 1t would seem
that publication OF such matters by
common consent is postponed TO later
periods when judgms arc both calm
and more .n1HYrs1 Gerard, how
p 7. 7. !,
must not
Sin." q