The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-28
my -Four Years In Germany"
Ambassador Gerdrd's Experiences al German Court
Until Entrance of the United States Into
the Great War
Gen1any's Treatment of Yarowdale Prison
ers Raises Doubt Of Her Thorough SINGER
Hy in Processing Anxiety 10 Maintain
Peace Win America

this route and claim that armed mer-
chantmen were table 10 be sunk with
out notice.
Instructed by the state department,
/ demanded the immediate release OF
the Yarrowdale prisoners. This was
accorded by Germany but after the
breaking OF relations the prisoners
were held back, and ii was not until
after we left Germany that they were
released.
/ asked permission to visit these
prisoners, and sent Mr.. Ayrault and
Mr.. Osborne TO the place where /
knew they were interned. The per-
mission to visit them arrived. but on
the same day orders were given to
remove the prisoners to other camps.
Mr. Osborne and MIR. Ayrault. how
ever, being on the ground, saw the
prisoners before their removal and
reported on their condition.
A RMAN-AMERICAN
LOVE FEAST
on January the American Asso-
citation of Commerce and Trade gave
me a dinner at the Hotel Adlon. This
was made the occasion Of a sort of
German American love feast 2im
hermann, although he had to so ear
" in the evening to meet the foreign
minister of Austria Hungary, was
present; Helfferich. vice-chancellor
and secretary of the interior, DR.. Solf,
the colonial minister; Sydow minister
of commerce, Dernburg, Won Gwin-
ner, OF the Deutsche bank: Gutmann.
of the Dresdner bank, Under Score
tary Won der Dusche. of the foreign
office, the mayor and the police pres
ident OF Berlin; the president OF the
Berlin chamber of commerce; Under
Secretary Won Stumm, Of the foreign
office and manv others Of that office;
Under Secretary Richter, OF the in
terror department. Northumberland
Doeutelmoser. of the general staff,
the editors and proprletors OF the
principal newspapers In Berlin, Count
Montgelas. who had charge Of Amerl-
can affairs in the foreign office; naval
officers like Captain Lans; the Ameri-
can correspondents I'm Germany and
Prince Isenhurg rlhbing shoulders
with the brewers. George Ehret and
Kruger, CT New York and Newark.
There were literary lights like I4ud-
wig Fulda, Captain Persius, Profess
sor Hans Delbrueck. Or Paasche. VICE
president of the reichstag, and many
others equally celebrated as the ones
that I have named.
Speeches We're made by Mr. Wolf,
president Of the American Associa-
lion Of Commerce and Trade, Helffer-
ich, zimmerman, Won Gwinnsr and
by me. A tone OF the greatest friend
inesS prevailed. zimmerman re-
ferred "a our personal friendship, and
said that he was sure that we should
be able To manage everything togeth-
er Helfferich in his speech said that
/, by learning German and studying
the life of the German people, was
one of the few diplomats who had
come to Germany who had learned
something Of the real life and psy-
CholoeY OF the Germans. Won GW,in-
ner made a speech in English that
would have done credit to any Ameri-
car after dinner speaker, and In my
short address, ! said that the rela-
lions between the two countries had
never been better. and. so leng as my
personal friends Ike Zimmerman and
other members of the government.
whom ! named, were in office, that
] was sure he good relations between
the two countries would be main.
tanned. ] spoke also of the sums OF
money that | had brought back with
mo for the beneit of the widows and
orphans OF Germany
The majority of the German news
papers spoke in q very kindly way
about this dinner and about what was
said al it. OF course. they all took
what / said as an expression of
friendliness, and only Reventlow
claimed that by referring to- the mem
hers Of the government l was refer
ring to the internal affairs OF Ger
many The speeches, and. in fact
this dinner, constituted last des-
perate attempt to preserve friendly re-
lations. Both the reasonable men
present and I knew almost to GER
tainty that return to ruthless subma-
rine war had been decided on, and
that only some lucky chance could
prevent the military, backed by the
made public mind from insisting on
defiance of international law and
the laws OF humanity.
The day after the dinner the chan
cellor sent for me and expressed APP
provai of what l had said; he thanked
me for II. and on the surface it seemed
as If everything was merry as a mar
riase bell" Unfortunately, am
afraid that all this was only on the
surface, and. perhaps, the orders TO
the submarine commanders to recon-
nence ruthless war had been given
on the day preceding this love feast
GERMAN MISCONCEPTION
OF PRESIDENTS MANDATE"
The Germans believed that Presi-
dent Wilson had been placed with
mandate to keep out of war at any
cost, and that America could be insult
ed, fouted and Inundated with i'm
punity.
Even before this dinner we had be-
gun to get rumors of the resumption
OF ruthless submarine war Within
fow days ] was cabling to the de-
partment information based, not upon
absolute facts. but upon reports which
seemed reliable and which had been
collected through the able efforts OF
our verv capable naval attache, Com
raAnder Gherardi-
And this information was confirmed
~ the hints given TO me by various
influential Germans.
Again and again. after January 6,
was assured by Zimmerman and