New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-14
Germany Denies
Gerard's Story OF
Kaiser's Telegram
Asserts Alleged Message
Regarding Belgium Does
Not Exist
Wilson's Note Quoted
Offer of Mediation Came Too
Late, Says Statement
in Press

BERLIN, Aug. 13.-The semi-offlcial
"Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung' de-
MES the existence Of the telegram al
legged by James W. Gerard, former
American Ambassador at Berlin, to
have been sent by Emperor William 10
President Wilson in August. 1914, wheh
the German Emperor is quoted as nav
ing asserted that Belgium's neutrality
ahad 10 be violated by Germany on
strategical grounds The alleged tele-
gram which has reached Berlin by way
Of Switzerland has the Emperor saying
that King George sent him word
through the Emperor's brother, Prince
Henry. that Great Britain would re-
main neutral II war broke out on the
Continent involving Germany ana
France and Austria and Russia. Inc
"Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung'
says:
ave are in a position to declare that
no such telegram from the Emperor
exists. II is true that Mr.. Gerard was
given an audience on August 10, 1914
in order to give him an opportunity OF
placing President wilson's offer OF
mediation before the Emperor.
President Wilson's Message
"The Presidents personal message to
the Emperor read as from the othclal
head of one of the powers when
signed The Hague convention, ana
said:
"T feel it to be my right ard my
duty in accordance with Article Ill OF
the convention to declare TO you IN
spirit of the truest friendship that l
would welcome any opportunity to act
in the interests of European peace
whether now or at any other time that
might be better fitted, to render YOU
and all concerned services which woulu
give me satisfaction and JOY
"This proposal was made at the time
when the armies Of both sides had al
ready crossed the frontier and wren IL
seemed out of the question TO call a
halt 10 events. The Emperor could,
therefore, only have his thanks con-
vcved to President Wilson for his offer
and thereby remark that while the
nresent moment was too early Tor
mediation by the neutral powers the
Presidents friendly proposal might
later be returned to.
"The Emperor then conversed Tor
some time further with Mr.. Gerard ana
explained to him the events that leo
I'D to the outbreak of war. The tm-
peror particularly pointed out the am
biguous and disloyal attitude of Great
Britain which had destroyed all hope
of peaceful agreement.
"Mr. Gerard's statements IN MS
Memoirs appear to be a reproduction
of this conversation. If the press IN
enemy countries sees revelations IN
them, that only shows they are ignorant
of the German White Book which IN
essence set forth the same events.
May Have Written Memorandum
Possibly during the conversation the
Emperor wrote q memorandum for the
Ambassador, so that he might not an
nounce anything to Washington that
would be incorrect. In that case II
would be a matter OF record, destined
to assist Mr.. Gerard's memory. but II
would not be q communication from
the Emperor to President wilson
The Cologne Gazette" says there is
no apparent reason TO doubt the genu-
ineness of the ,Emperor's telegram as
published by Mr.. Gerard. The news
paper saws it cannot see how its con-
tents can serve as fresh proof OF Ger
many's guilt, as it only gives new evil
dence of the cunning and ambiguous
policy followed by Great Britain in the
DAVIS prior to the outbreak OF the war.
The newspaper further sees in the
Gerard revelations another move IN
plan TO exploit the Stockholm confer
ence in favor of the Entente by put
ting the question of responsibility for
the outbreak of the war and then press
ing the Socialists into the position OF
being the accused parties.
Says II Proves Love Of Peace
The "Neueste Nachrichten," of
Munich. Bavaria, says 1t does not mat
ter whether the Emperor,s message 10
Wilson is authentic, as il only proves
the Emperor's love of peace. But quite
another thing, the newspaper says, is
the use the EHlGHNS press SiN
graphic agencies are making Of Mr..
Gerard's book. "as it is a great effort
made again to represent Germany as
being responsible for the war"
The "Neueste Nachrichten' complains
that the Entente has been given four
days start with its foreign press, while
the Berlin government now promises
a belated explanation, and adds:
sour diplomacy in the days OF the
telephone always seems to work at the
pace of the mail coach"
The "Lokal-Anseiger," commenting on
the publication of the alleged telegram,
says:
"Mr. Gerari's comments on this al
legged telegram of the Emperor at
tempt TO prove that no greater mis-
fortune could have happened to the
world, including the New World, than
England's participation in the war.
IL is futile to argue against such stu
pidity. The very imperial document
which Mr.. Gerard publishes proves con-
clusively what influence worked with
might and main in July, 1914, to pre-
vent war"