Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-08-14
Germans Deny Emperor
Handed Gerard Personal
Telegram for Wilson; !;
State Department Pro-
duces Proof of Kaiser's
Refusal to Change Plans

Washington, Aug. 14.-In asnw,
10 the semiofficial statement issue
n Berlin to-day denying the exis
ence of a personal telegram fro
he German emperor to Presidei
the state department off
,ially gave out the telegram to-da
rhe message was given to Amba
;ador Gerard in the Kaiser'a oN
hand writing and is as follows:
Berlin via Copenhagen.
dated August IA, 1914.
Received August Is, 7.3O p. NJ.
Secretary of State, Washington.
August IA, P. NJ.
"The following was communicate
personally to me by the empert
IN writing:
Private and confidential.
For the President personally.
lone. His royal hiShness,
Prince Henry, was received by
His Majesty King George V, in
London, who empowered him to
transmit to me verbally that
England would remain neutral
If war broke out on the conti-
nent involving Germany and
France, Austria and Russia.
This message was telegraphed
to me by my brother from Lon
don after his conversation with
his majesty the King and re-
peated verbally on the twenty
ninth July.
1.-TWO. My ambassador in
London transmitted a message
from Sir Edward Grey to Ber-
lin saying that only in case
France was likely to be crushed
would England interfere.
Three. On the thirtieth my
ambassador in London reported
that Sir Edward Grey in the
course of q private (sic) con-
versation told him that if the
conflict remained localized be-
tween Russia-not Serbia-and
Austria-England woulu not
move, but if we mixed in the
fray she would take quick de-
cisions and grave 'maneuvers;
in other words, if 1 left my ally
Austria in the lurch to fight
alone England would not touch
us.
-Four. This communication
being directly counter to the
kings message to me, l tele-
graphed to his majesty on the
twenty-ninth or thirtieth thank
ing him for kind message
through my brother and begging
him to use all his power to keep
France and Russia, his allies
from making any warlike prep
arations calculated to disturb
my work on mediation, stating
that 1 was in constant communi-
cation with his majesty the czar.
In the evening the king kindly
answered that he had ordered
his government to use every
possible influence with his allies
to repudiate taking any provo
cative military measures. AT
the same time his majesty asked
me should transmit to Vienna
the British proposal that Aus
tria was to take Belgrade and
few other Servian towns and
strip of country as a main mise
(sic) to make sure that the
Servian promises on paper
should be fulfilled in reality.
This proposal was in the same
moment telegraphed to me from
Vienna for London quite in con-
junction with the British pro-
posal; besides I had telegraphed
to his majesty the czar the same
as an idea of mine before 1
received the two communica-
tions from Vienna and London.
AS both were of the same opin-
ion I Immediately transmitted
the kilograms vice versa to
Vienna and London. I felt that
I was able to tide the question
over and was happy at the
peaceful outlook.
"'Five. While 1 was prepar-
ing q note to his majesty the
czar the next morning to inform
him that Vienna, London and
Berlin were agreed about the
treatment of affairs. received
the telephone message from his
excellency the chancellor that
in the night before the czar had
given the order to mobilize the
whole of the Russian army
which was of course, also meant
against Germany; whereas mp
till then the southern armies
had been modified against
Austria.
"'Six. In q telegram from
London my ambassador in
formed me he understood the
British government would guar
antee neutrality of France and
wished to know whether Ger
many would refrain from at
tack.
at telegraphed to his majes-
ty the king personally that mo-
bilization being already carried
out could not be stopped, bu:
If his majesty could guarantees
with his armed forces the ueu-
trality of France, I would re-
frain from attacking her, leave
her alone and employ my forces
elsewhere. His majesty ans
wered that he thought my offer
was based on a misunderstand-
ing, and as far as 1 can make
out Sir Edward Grey never took
my offer irto serious considera-
ton. He never answered 1t. In
stead, he declared England had
to defend Belgian neutrality,
which had to be violated by Ger
many on strategetical grounds,
news having been received that
France was already preparing
to enter Belgium and the king
of the Belgians having refused
my petitions for a free passage
under guarantee of his coun-
try's freedom.
"'I am most grateful for the
presidents message. Wilhelm
GERARD"
The department gave out Il
as it was received by cabl
It's language differs only slight
from the original autograph te2
though emperor's spelling has bee
In saVaral INSTANCES