New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-26

Almost at the very beginning OF the
war Germany attempted TO put the
Standard OH Company out Of business
in Germany. A bill was introduced
in the Reichstag providing for the pur-
chase Of all foreign oil properties with
I'm the German Customs Union" and
for the conGscatlon Of all property out
side this union.
The bill was called 70 the attention
Of Ambassador James w. Gerard by
attorneys for the Standard Oil Com
pany, who were much concerned over
the Reichstag proposal. Gerard, who
for n number Of years was a Supreme
Court Judge OF New York, examined
the measure carefully and discovered
that the words German Customs
Union" made up the joker In the bill,
because the properties OF foreign oil
interests were located mostly outside
tho Customs Union, and these were
20 be seized
Taking a copy Of the bill, Ambasca-
dor Gerard called upon Imperial Chan
cellor Won Bethmann-Hollweg and said
that the United tSates government
would not permit an American corpo-
ration TO be Disseminated against in
such fashion. The Chancellor seemed
surprised He called the Ambassadors
attention to the belief in Germany
that the Standard Oil Company was
so unpopular with the American peo-
pie that the American government
would surely not attempt to protect It's
foreign interests.
Gerard Corrects False View
The Chancellor said that both Presi-
dent Wilson and Secretary Bryan were
reported to be such friends of the
people that they could not afford TO
protect the property of the Standard
oil Company. Gerard replied that the
very fact that these men were known
in the public mind as having no con
nection with this corporation would
enable them to give il the same pro
lection they would give other American
property,
When the Chancellor still expressed
surprise Mr.. Gerard spoke about the
following words to him:
"You know that you have been dis
eliminating against the Standard Oil
Company here in Germany for num-
Der Of years already. The Prussian
state railways have been charging the
Standard Oil Company twice as much
TO shin oil from Hamburg to Berlin
as they have charged German corpora
,ions to transport Rumanlan oil from
the Austrian border to Berlin, when
is almost twice as far. Now don you
think that is enough p
Although Mr.. Gerard obtained no
promises from the Chancellor, the bill
was never brought up again IN the
Reichstsg ,,.
When the British blacklists ware
published the greatest indignation was
shown in Germany. The German Press
Bureau sent out columns Of protests
but what was the government doing at
the same time?
American Merchant COerced
Last December an American mer- |
chant UAntU AUUApH Ia Nh'''N''''s
leading shoe dealer in Berlin, wanted
10 close his store and return to the
United States. lie could not obtain
American shoes and was dissatisfied
with the treatment the government ana
police accorded him. so he decided TO
close his place of business on trledrlch-
strassc. Before he could leave Berlin
ne had to get police permission 70
leave Germany and go to the united .
States. Every American had to have
permission from the police to leave
Germany.
hartmann handed in his passports
and was told to return in eight days
on the appointed day he was asked 10
sign a paper stating that he never mad
and that the American shoe company
he represented never had, sold sho. 10
the Allies. lie protested and refused
10 sign. 49,,
The police department informed HIM
that unless he signed and swoTe 10 his
statements before the American Cham
her of Commerce he would not be per
mittcd 10 leave Germany.
Barthmann was anxious 10 leave. lie
had his steamship reservations and mad
closed his store. He went 20 the Amcri-
can Embassy and the consulate, but
they could not help him until the case
was referred to the State Department:
hartmann signed the documents and
obtained the signature of President
Isaac Wolf, jr., Of the American
Chamber Of Commerce and Trade. lie
was permitted TO leave. The police
told him afterward that If he had not
signed that paper he would not have
been permitted to return to Germany
after the war TO reopen his store.
That was the way Germany treated
American business firms.
L. s. Relief Unacknowledged
During the two years and a half that
the United States maintained diplo- !
matte relations with Germany millions /
Of dollars were sent from this country /
TO Germany for relief purposes. But /
throughout the two years was IN Ger
many ! recall only two instances where /
German newspapers acknowledged /
funds raised here for such purposes
When Judge Nippert, of Cincinnati
came TO Berlin in the interests OF the
American East Prussian Relief Society |
with about five million marks, the Ger
man press gave him recognition. But
Judge Nippert. who was frank and hon
est. worked to get before the German
people the fact that at that time, when
every one in Germany thought every
one in the United States was against
the German people. there were people
here who were contributing large SUES
Of money for relief purposes.
The second instance was when Am
bassador Gerard returned 10 Berlin
last December after the Presidential!
elections. He brought with him funds
for relief purposes, contributed by men
and women throughout the United
States. The German newspapers &C
knowledged what he gave out, because