The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-09-01
From Other
Editorial Pages
AMBITION OF GERMAN FOREIGN
MINISTER IS TO MAKE PEACE.

Kuehlmann, who succeeded DR.. Alfred
Zimmerman as German secretary Of
foreign affairs, is a composite type Of
German according to men who know
him and who told what they knew
when the report of his appointment
to what may turn out to be the mos;
arduous job among all those in the gift
of the kaiser reached this country.
He is an Anglophile, according to
them, but won't let his friendship for
England stand in the way Of obtaining
any advantage for Germany, should he
be intrusted with peace negotiations.
He is liberal in tendency. but more be.
cause he thinks it expedient than on
account Of deep beliefs in liberalism.
He is democratic, but, in the words of
one man who met him. he spells de.
mocracy with small "a
And he is, above all. tremendously
ambitious man. He wants to push his
personal fortunes just as high as they
can possibly go. Principle to him.
remarked the man mentioned above.
means Kuehlmann." Then, mindful
of the definition which he had lust
given Of how the new German cabinet
officer looks upon democracy, he add
ed:
And, believe me, he spells Kuehl.
mann with a big X"
The new minister's sentiments TO.
ward the United States are. apparent.
ly influenced by the same sort of util.
itarianism translated into terms of
semi-liberalism which influences his
views on other matters 1t is said that
he Is OF the school of German thought
which affects to despise this country az
military and naval factor in the war.
which Is assured that our effective on.
try into operations in Europe cannot
possibly occur within six months or a
year, and will. for that reason. nrove
futile since by then the central powers
VIII have won the war and there will
be nothing for America to do but n
make the best Of the peace neRotia.
| tons. Yet those who know DR.. Won
huehlmann hasten TO add that he most
strongly opposed Germany's break with
the United States, denouncing # as tbe
| greatest blunder made by his father
land since the outset of the war. be
cause he was emphatically of In,
| opinion that in the "war after m,
war; Germany would badly nee,
American friendship. and the short.
sighted throwing overheard of tba.
friendship was bound to have mos
damaging effects on Germanys trad,
when the markets Of the world. an,
especially those Of Latin.America. wer,
once more opened to her business men
Holding this view Won Kuehlman,
opposed ruthless U-boat warfare I'm,
1t seems, he based his opposition NOT q,
horror Of its cruelty or disbelief in IL
efficacy as war measure. but on IN,
ground that it would react against Ger
many In the long run. He also foresav
the FOOD embargo and its consequences
Dr. Won Kuehlmann's main object I,
me according to one who has studio,
MIN, is TO be the big man I'm tho noo,o
uatlon OF peace conditions after IN,
present war Though native Of ,
iand where many men are proud IN IA,
the leaders in making war. no,bin,
would please him better. It seems tba,
10 go down in history as the man v,h,
made peace. With this end in viev /,
Is thought that he will play his cards I,
'he Nllhelmstrasse so as to bring abou
preliminary moves for peace. witbop
giving the impression. nevertheless n
oeing "peaceatany.price" statesma,
OF even one really desirous OF endin,
the war. ''O'''e
Won kuehlmann is Of comparativel,
humble extraction. so to brand him a.
Junker is incorrect. Nor is no j
Junker in convictions any more than IL
birth. '''''' IL
Richard Won Kuehlmann is descrihad
as handsome man. a blond 81 49,
saxon type, with light hair and mps
taehe He not only makes no conceal
ment OF his friendly feeling towarl
England but openly boasts about b,
lie speaks English so well thar his
speech can scarcely be distineuisbo,
irom that OF a native Engllsbman ona
ne makes point OF wearing clothes Of
English cut and aping English manner.
isms-especially those OF the English
aristocracy.
lie spent eight years in England and
there are those who say that while bs
was there his friendliness toward Brit
am and her ways did not prevent him
from dealing with the extremist.
among the Sim Feiners and organic
ing them for opposition To the British
government.
The won" in his name. by the way
came to him in the most indirect wav
some Germans are born with that titl,
II nobility and some achieve il. but
Richard Won Kuehlmann had il thrust
upon him-probably without objection
on his partly marriage. His wife wa,
baroness Won Stumm. Of a prominent
noble family OF Germany. and her hus
band, soon after he was married TO her
managed somehow to tack her "yon'
on his own name
His wife also brought him wealth n
her father was the owner OF big Ger
man iron mines. She died last June O
typhus fever at Constantinople. wher
her husband was German ambassado,
Able as he is, this must have been
most difficult Job for Won Kuehlmanr
since he is not diplomat in the sens
that this term would be understoo,
say, In France, the home OF polishe
and tactful diplomacy. lie is said I
be only fairly smooth-you might sa
that he is smooth for a German. II
tries hard all the time nnt % ~, ~.