Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1917-02-22


| spectively German and Austro-Hun
garian ambassadors TO the United |
States, of their concept of armed mer-
| chantmen and their liability to ut. |
tack as warships.
The final decision on an out-and-out
| submarine campaign of a so-called
ruthless type apparently was taken at
the grand Austro- German conference
at German headquarters on the Ger
man emperor's birthday, though the
Associated Press heard the statement
that submarines departing several
| days earlier for stations on the sub
marine hunting grounds were provided
| with contingent orders for this eventu-
ality.
The censorship, however, shut down
| tightly on any definite statements or
predictions of the approaching crisis,
the Associated Press being then in
formed from usually reliable sources
that it was desired for marine and
technical reasons to have the decision
come as a surprise.
Gerard Hears Gossip.
| This intimation was conveyed con-
fidentially to the German newspapers.
All dispatches going into the subject in
detail, however, were either suppressed
entirely or references to coming events
censored out of them, and the only re-
source was TO use again and again the
word Blockade" in discussions of sub
marine possibilities.
Ambassador Gerard, of course, was
also aware of the current gossip and
probably was able to advise the state
department of the possible turn In
events, even while the echoes of his
banquet speech were still resoundlng.
Threaten to Hold Writers.
AS to the attitude of the German
government toward the possible hold
ing of American newspaper men as
hostages In the event of the failure of
the United States to act ON the propo-
sitiOn for the renewal of the old trea-
ties between the governments, it is
known that the protocol, which Count
Montgelas, head of the American de-
partment Of the German foreign Office,
submitted to Ambassador Gerard on
the part of Foreign Secretary thinner
mann contained besides q formal re-
ratification of the treaty provisions of
1899 and 1928 regarding mutual treat
ment of nationals caught in belliger-
ent country In the case of war, a num-
Der of important additions and expan-
sions.
Ambassador Gerard's refusal to
, sign the treaty after he had ceased
: to perform his ambassadorlal func-
) lions or to telegraph for instructions
unless he was permitted to use code
, led Count Montgelas to hint that a
) refusal to sign the protocol might
materially affect the status of Ameri-
: cans in Germany and the privilege of
) departure, mentioned specifically, of
: the American correspondents whom
r Ambassador Gerard desired to take
out with him and whose fate ap
parently was thought to carry par
/. ticular weight in American public
= opinion.
+ Won't BE "Sandbagaed."
e This intimation of the possibility Of
OBTAINING Americans, even under the
= status of q rupture of diplomatic re
6 lations, not war, and abe use of news
l. paper representatives as supposedly
important pieces upon the diplomatic
j. chessboard, caused Mr.. Gerard tt
s declare roundly that he could not b.
# party to "any such pressure" ant
r that he doubted whether any of thu
d newspaper men could be sand
l. bagged" or influenced in any way b!
l. considerations of personal safety O
T. convenience, and that he must per
IS sist in his earlier expressed stand
r point regarding these negotiations.
r From that point nothing furthe
n was heard of the protocol or of tn
" possibility Of OBTAINING Americans.
Influenced by Dispatches.
The German governments attitud
- undoubtedly was influenced by tn
- press dispatches with which the Gel
man newspapers were then tloode
=. asserting that German ships were b'
=, ing seized and their crews interned l
the United States, these dispatches b'
,y ing virtually the only news which tn
= government was then receiving, no of
N cial communications from Count vo
!. Bernstorff having come since a tim
several days before the rupture of r.
n. lations.
" AS soon as authoritative informs
q. ton was received in direct dispatche
&c that the reports of the contiscatio
70 of ships and the internment of sailor
A. were incorrect and that no obstacle
Id were being placed In the way {
I'd Count Won Bernstorff's departure und'
q. safe-conduct, arrangements for II
or issuance of passports to the ambass
of dor and his suite began to procee
ed with marked acceleration.
e. Had they been In possession of d
st rect authoritative information on II
r. true status Of affairs In America, of
an Gals declared repeatedly to the ASS
| oRokoH Draco Corroapnnhanf iuofAah 4