The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-02-12
AMERICANS BEING
HELD AS HOSTAGES
Continued from page l.

negotiate or officially deal with Ger
many in any way, declaring he had
been ordered to leave Berlin and that
such orders terminated his diplo-
matte authority.
1t is understood Gerard plainly told
Count Montgelas that if Americans
were forced to remain in Germany,
the United States would regard this
as cause for war
Switzerland is granting the Ameri-
cans every courtesy and hospitality.
a Swiss government official, Major
Pitare. is stationed here at Berne
with Instructions to grant ali pos
sible aid to Gerard and his party.
Practically demand was made up
on Ambassador Gerard before he left
Berlin to sign treaty in effect guar
anteeing permission for German ships
to leave American harbors in case of
war. this ultimatum being backed up
with the threat to hold American cor
respondents as hostages il such &C
ton was not taken.
Gerard. it is reliably reported, told
the German official who brought this
threat that If Americans were forced
to remain in Germany, America
would regard such action as cause
for war. He refused to sign.
1t is now possible to tell from this
neutral point the full circumstances
connected with Count Montegelas' con-
ference with Gerard.
It was on Monday that he first
preached the subject of a treaty to
be signed by the American ambassa-
dor. Gerard promptly refused.
Then Montegelas warned him il
Germany's proposal was not accepted.
it would be difficult for Americans to
leave Berlin. Gerard continued firm
In his refusal.
On the Wednesday succeeding this
Monday conference, the passports Of
American correspondents were taken
up by the foreign office, ostensibly for
wise, in order that they might ac-
company Gerard on the special train
to be provided by the German govern
ment for the American diplomat and
his staff.
1t was later that the correspondents
heard that Germany intended to hold
them as hostages for the safety of
German ships in American harbors.
After his first talk with Gerard,
Count Montegelas returned again to
the embassy and continued to urge
the signing OF the treaty.
Gerard persisted in his refusal and
even declined TO communicate the
German proposal to Washington un.
less he wan permitted confidential
ication-presumably in code
Count Montegelas refused permits
sion. Communicating some OF these
matters to the newspaper cores
pondents here today whom he re-
ceived in body. Gerard remarked:
81 told Montegeias I would sit there
in Berlin until kingdom come and not
leave until all Americans were per-
mitted free exit from Germany"
1t was apparently after these fruit
less interviews with the unyielding
American ambassador that German
police took up the passports of the
American correspondents, fnanciers,
Red Cross workers and plain citi-
zens. These Americans came to Ger
ard and told him unless he asked the
foreign office to allow them to depart
on the embassy train, they would be
forced to remain for probably months.
Gerard promptly communicated
with Count Montegelas, but the cor
respondents and other Americans did
not receive their passports until just
four hours before the embassy train
left Saturday night.
Gerard Stood Pat.
by Carl w Alderman, United Press
staff Correspondent
with Ambassador Gerard's Party at
Berne1
BERNE, (via Paris) Feb. 1.-THE
German government intends to delay
departure of Americans now in Ber-
lin In order 20 have such citizens in
hand for retaliatory measures in case
America declares war and interns
German citizens in the United States.
Permission for Americans even
tuaIIy to depart was only obtained