The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-07-21
Diplomat Reveals KaiSer's Plan
to Draw United States
Into Struggle.
BIG LEVY If VICTORIOUS
If Germany Lost She Counted on las
Ter Peace Through Pacitists Here
PLANNED Formation OF Great
International Trust.

issued with the consent of the state
department, Ulysses Grant-Shiith' lor
the past four years counselor 10 'iIe
American embassy ut Vienna, ca>'H
light upon the steps by which America
was drawn into the war.
He boldly accuses the kaiser OF fore
ing American participation with TINS
dual purpose:
First. IL Germany should triumph
she would be able to levy an enormous
war tribute upon the United States;
Second, If she should lose the mighty
game into which she has cast her all
she might hope through the Cnlted
States to obtain an easier peace, count
ing upon the influence of millions OF
German Americans and the American
pacifsts.
Dream of a Commercial Trust
Ultimate German victory, or even
the ending of the war in q draw, MI
Grapt-Smith believes, will mean the
formation by Prussia of great inter
national commercial trust, against
which the rest Of the world would be
all but powerless to battle. Austria
Hungary is to be added to the German
empire. and, through interlocking d.
rectors," Bulgaria and Turkey.
This dream of the mighty CONNER
cial trust, along with the desire lot
the annexation of Holland and Bel
rium and for the control of the N0rth
sea coast as far south as HnVre, sup
piled the real motive for Germany 5
ulunging the world into war, Mr. Grant
Smith believes. After pointing out
that his statement expresses only ms
personal belief, that he does not speak
| for the state department. he says:
when the causes which precipitated
| the present war are thoroughly eX-
| amfned, it IS my conviction that all
residents of the United States, what
ever their status, will recognize that
| the defeat Of the German government
in this conflict IS in the interests OF
oil.
Some months ago those OF US who
we're stationed in the central empires
reluctantly arrived at the conviction
that 1t was the deliberate intention OF
| the German government to force the
| United States into the war at what
She might consider the psychological
| moment.
Every good commander in making q
plan of campaign provides not only fol
!
for the eventually of defeat, as g
matter of plain business eXpediency II
the way of insurance. Germany, | an
! convinced, determined to force our en-
try on the side of the entente, VIII
| the Intention in case of victory, o.
! making the United States pay an IN
demnity, which would mean the sad
! ding of this and future generations
of Americans with an untold burden
Of taxation, or, in the case OF her de
| feat. to get better terms of peace
counting on the large German and pa
| cifist element in this country to throw
| their influence in that direction.
Planned Indemnity Frog U. S.
you may have noticed in the papers
lust previous to the outbreak of TIT
revolution an interview with Russian
deputy who was at the time in Rome
I believe. in which he said that tn
Russians feared that should the United
States enter the war she might u.s.
her influence at the peace conference
to obtain better terms for Germany
So you see there are others to whom
this same idea has occurred. And il
a recent issue the VolksZeitung of Co
logne said:
| I'VE are entitled to a humping wa
indemnity and we do not care who pay
! It, Those states which have sacrihce
Immense sums Will be unable to pay ii
| Therefore, America, which has earne
| thousands of millions through munition
| and supplies. will have to unbutton IL
| pockets We need not force America II
self to pay, but we hold go many pledge
| in hand that for the entente 1t Is mos
important to have America as a banke
| behind them.
Recall the fact that each newspa
ner in Germany is subject to the strict
est censorship; that whatever sentl
ments are expressed in them can be as
suned to be those Of the government
he result of instructions received b.
The representatives of the variou
newspapers directly from the govern
ment censor before whom they dali.
appear.
Recall this. I say. and consider TIL
statement that 1T is most importan
To have America as banker behin'
them This is not a vague theory.
has been a matter of common knowl
edge among thinking persons in Ger
many end Austria-Hungary for month
past. and is in line with PruSsian pol
lev followed in the wars of 1856 an
1870 which wh"ttcd their appetite 70
iplpmnitics. monetary as well as tel
ritOrial.
THE opening scene Of the last nc
was in complete harmony with the hes
| Bismarckian tradition. After month
of careful preparation the moment ha
arrived to make the next move, (
force the United States Of America I
! sten into the place. to play the rel