New-York tribune., 1917-12-27
Kaiser Interview
Diluted Before 1t
Went to Century
Version as Recalled by
Magazine Editor Differs
Widely From Original
BY BRIGGS

Clarence Clough Buel, onetime as
sociate editor of "The Century Mag
azine." presented under his signature
in "The New York World yesterday
a reconstruction of WiAiam Bayard
Hale's interview with Emperor Will
lam of Germany as suppressed by
"The Century" in November, 1908.
On Monday morning, December II
last, The Tribune printed an article
giving details of the interviews sup
preston and a partial synopsis Of
what it contained. The material for
this came TO The Tribune from one
who, as told By The Tribune, resur-
rected the suppressed interview from
plates that had never been destroyed,
read il, and submitted it to Count Won
Bernstorff, then German Ambassador
TO Washington. That was in Septem-
Der, 1914. In other words. assuming
that his and Mr.. Buel's memory are Of
about the same retentiveness, The
Tribune's informant had over Mr..
Buel an advantage cf nine years. He
said yesterday tat he did not wish TO
enter in any controversy over the mat
ter, but that his memory and Mr..
Buel's "did not in all ways seem to
agree"
Having no knowledge OF the Bern
storff interview in 1914, when the Ger
man Ambassador demanded Of "The
Century" that the Kaiser's interview
again be "killed," copy having been
taken from the intact plates, as The
Tribune has related, Mr.. Buel does not
explain Won Bernstorf's anxiety at so
late time-and with Europe at war
provided the Kaiser had not, as The
Tribune mas said. attacked the Catholic
Church, attacked England and prac-
tically predicted the world war.
Century" Article Mild
Il is no secret in newspaper circles
that Hale's article as submitted TO
THE Century" was milk-and water
affair, compared with the memorandum
Of his talk with the Kaiser as he first
submitted il TO his employer, The New
York Times" That version. having
been made soon after Hale had his talk
on the royal yacht and being in the
form of memorandum, had, as the
saying goes, lot more punch" than
the carefully prepared magazine mate
rial, diluted in order that it might ap-
pear in so conservative a publication
as "The Century" after "The Times"
had ruled against printing L. "The
Times explained at the time that. in
view of a request from the German
Foreign Office, it deemed publication of
the matter inexpedient.
Fairly Accurate Diges,
'.The World" on November Il. 1905.
after bit of clever reportorial WORK
by a member of its staff. was enabled
20 present a fairly accurate digest of
, Vhat Wilhelm II had said, or what
William Bayard Hale had set down sor
The New York Times" as wha. The
Emperor had said It's belief In the
authenticity of the synopsis "The
World" attested b. follow stor.esp OF
a semi-editorial pature FOR nearly ten
days. Then on Monday morning. No.
yember 30, 1908, in the face Of derisis
ffcm the German Foreign Office ana
elsewhere. IL repudiated It's own ne
count and announced eGitorially:
After painstaking inquiry The
World frankly admits that K Gnds
no convincing basis Tor the so-callcd
synopsis OF the Hale Interview, w.th
the German Emperor"
The Tribune has established or tar
best Of authority that "The WORLDS"
repudated synopsis YVES correct. The
authority is Theodore Roosevelt.
The chief point that thc Tribune.
recent article sought 20 emphasize was
that nine years ago the Emperor OF
, Germany had revealed himself as the
worlds trouble maker, hater OF Eng
land and cou-ter o. tho world WY.