Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-16
GERARD DIDN'T. SEE
! BOY-ED in BERLIN
Ex-Envoy, in Philadelphia,
Hugs Mysterious Bag and
Guards Tongue -
LEAVES FOR NEW YORK

: Ambassador James w. Gerard American
.,vov 10 Germany until President Wilson
hroke off diplomatic relations. talked to
,ewspaper men here today before he boarded
the If o'clock Reading express for New
York. He had spent the night at the Belle
vue-Stratford.
Asked about Captain Boy.Ed's reported
visit to Philadelphia he first pleaded ignor-
.nee and then turned the question into a
laugh as he did nearly every other. Asked
as 10 the probability Of Captain Boy-Ed
having come here he said How do I
know but readily admitted it was pos
sible for Boy-Ed to he "either" here or in
Berlin. Mr.. Gerard did say though that
he had not seen boy-Ed after returning to
his post in Berlin after a brief visit to the
United states last fall. leaving the infer
ence that Boy-Ed might have been absent
from Germany all that while.
There were many things the former Am
bassador would not talk about; among
them Russia. He said he wasn't able to
discuss that country, anyway, and refused
10 say whether he thought either of the
bsllgerent sides could extract any espe-
cia comfort out of the revolution there.
! 1t was about 1910, o'clock when Mr..
Gerard left his suite at the Bellevue-Strat-
the hotel after last midnight, and one of
the first questions put to him was why he
had come to Philadelphia, the information
sought being why he had not taken train
direct from Washington to New York
AN ELUSIVE WAUGH
"oh, now" he said. "tnat's not bit
clever of you. Why don't you ask me why
I'm going away?"
Mr.. Gerard treated most questions in
that manner. His laugh is n ready one
and II appearances count for anything his
health and disposition may be rated at 100
per cent He spoke of his cold.
We'll. do you expect that celebration
New York is giving in your honor today
will help it."
you said it," he replied. I'm afraid it
will help it, not cure it,
The diplomat was asked about that
famous remark" he was reported to have
used when a German official threatened
to hold American correspondents as hostages
II he did not sign certain treaty. WAS it
true?"
What famous remark?" he asked
When you told Count Montgelas you'd
BIT there till hell froze over"
Yes, l said it," he answered, not with
out pride.
rs that counted as diplomatic language
abroad?"
Il They understood it,"
Mr., Gerard said he had long talk with
PRESIDENT Wilson last night, which was the
reason he did not get 10 bed here sooner
out ne would not give an inklng of what
passed between them. The President is
sieeling well again, he volunteered
The group was broken up so that Mr.
oerard could go to the cashier and pay his
Dill. He mad that much.advertised bag
with a strap slung over his shoulder; he
SAID ne was used to carrying it and needed
mo help.
We've all read that your bag was black
what happened to it ?"
Oh" and he laughted, "it got sunburnt
when / was in Cuba"
New York clergyman stopped to In
uouuce hlmself, and then Mr.. Gerard made
smiling exit to the street, where a taxi
was waiting He posed for the photograph
srs and listened to the questions he wouldn't
answer. He seemed to enjoy seeing how
\ many he could turn into a laugh.
1t was more than a half hour to train
ume but he said he didn't mind waiting
at the station.
once there. he walked around in the train
vned, bought few magazines and saw
y ms Pullman seats. There were no de.
~cuves to take care of him. but he seemed
perfectly satisfied and able Il care for
nimself. He remembered that he had left
Mo overcoats at the hotel and sent Frank
nail who was. one of his under secretaries
an Berlin, back to fetch them.
1t pays to be provident," he said COM
mehthg on his early arrival at the sta
.lon. He talked further while he waited
,or the gates to open, recalling some Of the
instances when diplomatic relations were
ptoken' He confirmed the stories that his
messages, both open and in code, had been
e"Nrely held up, but said there had been
complete absence of public excitement.
,he news of the break was withheld from
"e German public for day, he said The
teports that he had been robbed in Havana
'' herman were untrue, he said