American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-08-07
GERARD's DISCLOSURES.

That Germany was cognizant OF
Austfia's uitimatum 10 Serbia, four
teen hours before Il was dispatched
Ia the information which our own
government adds % the controversy
Waged concerning the origin Of the
var. Manifeatly the gvernment at
Washington Ii IN possession OF facts
which have been denied TO London.
Paris and PetrOgrad. but this Is not at
all surprising. for II must be remem-
berod that our neutral position for
nearly three years Of the war made
a. possible for governmental agents
among them Colonel House-and
newspaper correspondents. as we'll
a. ambassador Gerard. 10 garner in
formation which the belligerents had
no chance 10 obtain.
II IL only necessary to read the first
tuetallment of Ambassador GeraTd's
remarkable narrative, In The Tribune
of Sunday. TO discern how much OF
abe secret diplomacy OF the war has
been kept under cover for three years.
II trAnsplres that the kaiser entered
fnto negotiations with King George Of
England through the medium Of the
emperor's brother. Prince Henry.
King George. according to the kaiser,
empowered Prince Henry TO promise
that England would remain neutral
AZ var broke out on the continent In
volFing Germany and France. Austria
and Russia.
a. Ia easy TO conceive that the kali
aer's personal cablegram TO President
Wilson conveying this information had
2 decidedly bad effect In Washington
because "a revealed tho kaiser as q
complete hypocrlte. King George
could not empower" anybody "a
promise anything about the neutrali.
~ OF England. and the kaiser knew
A. The king OF England IL wholly
without constitutional power TO decide
Tor wal or peace. and the kaiser might
Just az well have sent Prince Henry
60 negotiate with court chamberlain
or the master OF the horse.
In the evening" says the kaiser
~the king kindly answered that he had
ordered his government 20 use every
possible Influence with his allies "a
rcfrain from taking provocative milf
tary measures"
The revelation OF MIR. Gerard will
cause a tempest In Great Britain, and
viii not enhance the prestige of the
kinE. who. granting that the kaiser
does not distort the facts. seems 70
have arrogated 20 himself powers
which he did not possess. AS far as
I can make out Sir Edward Gray new.
or took my offer into serious consid.
GRAFTON" complains the kaiser. Ma.
turally the British foreign secretary
Wouid pay but slight attention 10 the
personal negotiations between vii
lie" and George" He was perfectly
aware that the king al making him
self ridiculous by assuming to act on
en- equality OF power with the kaiser.
who Is the supreme arbitcr OF war and
peace in Germany The kaiser shows
plainly how different was Grey's pro
position from the kings.
On the 30th my ambassador IN
London reported that Sir Edward
Gray. in course OF a private CONVEX
aation. told him that n the conflic,
remained localized between Russia
mot Serbla-and Austria. England
would NOT move. but that n we mixed
in the fray she would take quick de-
rislons and grave measures. l. g.. II
lef my ally Austria iu the lurch 70
nght alone England would not touch
me-
In d word. Gray promised that II
Germany would stay out. England
would That would have kept France
out and Russia and Serbia would have
been len o. try conclusions with Aus.
friA
The kaiser lntimates that lt would
have been highly dishonorable foi
Germany % leave Austria 10 Ia,
Iurch. but he wanted Great Britain Z,
leave France So the lurch. aud ever
20 use armed power against France
The emperor pretends that every
thing was on the point OF being ar
ranged satisfactorily when Russia OF
dered complete mobilization, which
he contends. meant mobillzatiol
against Germany as well as Austri,
The official documents show tina
Russia and Austria had PRACTICAL
arrived at an agreement when ID
kaiser threw all the cards off Ii
table and. so to speak. began shootin.
The kaiser's admission regardir
the invasion OF Belgium Is perhaps u