Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1917-04-06

tween the United States and the entente
powers. particularly Great Britain, Bern
Of to e aaSS srs tie s diffefen &c Under The
seal OF secrecy Bernstorff would furnish
correspondents with his views on what the
attitude Of the United States should De
and supplied arguments that the united
States government itself had no intention
of putting forward This was especially
noticeable at the time Of the y publication 6s ion
anti-British articles purportins to give the
views Of the state department were IN
reality inspired by Bernstorff. Many OF
allow themselves to be used in this man
ner. but some. unable ITO obtain any d.
rect statements Of the position of the
depsTam saases sesS 9xsTn the of 1icia dc dee lara
tons OF Mr.. Lansing. accepted VIVA Bern
storff gave them and printed It as repre-
senttng. the views Of the administrator.
In this manner Bernstorn at times sue
c;eeded in creating what might nave peeh
dangerous friction between the state de-
partment and the entente embassies VINO
partment should be apparently int1amlng
public opinion in cases that were the SUP,
Jet of friendly diplomatic discussion anu
in which they believed that each side was
e%ndcavoring to reach an amicable settle
ment. AS a matter of fact the state De
partment almost always erred on the slde
blame attached to it for the publication
or the Objectionable dispatches. lney
We're merely another n a highly sue
cess1ul phase of Bernstorff's press cam
paign.
Reporters Still Shield Him.
Bernstorff had an understanding with
newspaper callers that he was never 10
De quoted unless. he specifically aus"u,-
ized the use of his name. He placed me me
source Of the information he impaired
and he talked to them with amazing Tree.
dom. Even now that he is gone. anu 'hat
ccurity of the United States while still en-
joying its hospitality nave been fully re-
vealed, his confidence is as strictly re
spected by the Washington
men as when he was the official repre-
sentative of an Ostenslbly friendly power.
Only once was Bernstorffs commence
and that was through an mad
In one of the discussions into which he
had skilfully guided the correspondents
the question of Canada's status IN me
war came up, and Bernstorff stated that
II Germany should in any manner acnieve
the invasion of Canada it could not ne
construed as a violation OF the Monroe
because Canada was a colony
with which Germany was at war. He
was quoted to that effect on the following
day, to his no small embarrassment.
"Played for Suckers"
No man in public life was ever treated
more fairly by III press than was Bern
storff. but on more than one occasion
high officials OF the United States: Coy
ambassador was shameiesSly
using them for HIS " purpose; tnat ne
was playing them for suckers ana
pulling their legs'-to quote the exact
words 0f tho spokesman for the state de.
But Bernstorff was a source Of news,
one might almost say. the only real source
when relations between the United States
and Germany were getting more and more
critical. Reporters who as a rule went
were not the heads Of bureaus or the most
experienced men, although Of course when
Of special moment came up Bern
storff did see most Of the chief Washing
the embassy vas gathered by men OF less
who often fell under the spell
Of the ambassadors undeniable charm OF
true from the false. the plausible from
the absurd. in the many propositions. he
on matters Of International law
and atnl,E n Q politics. In this way oa ReTno
and to get things over" which q man
would not under any circumstances have
been able to buy.
Revealed v. s. Secrets.
This was not. however, the only manner
In which newspaper men were used by
the central powers. The Teuton diplo-
mats habitually violated the confidence OF
the state department and would ! in
formation to newspaper men about mat
tiers h publication of which was con-
tiary to the interests of the United States.
telling them that they could get conffrma-
ton at the state department, but warning
of the Associated Press was
led into serving the interests of the Aus
train charge d'affaires.
Austrian Charge Involved.
; Baron Erich Zwiedinek had called late
where he had brought to the attention Of
q high official a matter in which the Aus
ria consul at Cleveland was involved. AS
leaving the department to keep an inn
portant engagement he did not even make
2 memorandum Of what had been told
him. but carried the information In his
had taken the matter up with Secretary
Lansing or mentioned It to anybody, the
Associated Press man questioned him
and asked him for details. The Ameri-
q official told the reporter that there
were only two men in washington who
knew Of the matter-himself and the dip
lomRt who . given out the story. TIT
newspaper man was requested by the
fornant and to gay that the state DC,
sor rtH s. hing ana a''sh had vs SIMPLE SsIG powers \ t.
s. Ss' sure r.t that spi IS d delivered that messs age :
Al Reporters lndsxed.
Bernstorff, had an elaborate card inde!
fled. either a. pr0.00@m0n or 0ne.Gor-