New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-02
BY ERNESTINE EVANS

THE Excellency Alfred zimmerman
who so clumsily turns TO intrigue
with Mexico and Japan does not
particularly recall the Herr thinner
mann who was Under-Secretary of For
eign Affairs last year, when | knew him
in Berlin. In those days he was so
sensible and so easy to talk to, and had
even a sense of humor
He was the easiest man TO see in the
German Foreign Office, and after no red
tape at all il was arranged that |
should 90 and talk toshim shortly after
the first of Bethmann- Hollweg's peace
speeches a year ago December.
] recall his Office. 1t reminded me of
nothing so much as the history seminar
room out at the University OF Chicago
the same old maps Of Europe where
one used 70 trace the rise and fall Of
the Holy Roman Empire and squirt out
the backgrounds Of the Napoleonic
wars, and a dusty one of the world,
grown familiar in Commercial Geog-
raphy III. Delightfully."- untidy piles OF
reports and books stood on a shabby
desk, and the rug was no grander than
an average sitting room Brussels.
Looks Like Missouri Farmer
Advancing across the narrow space,
gravely and cordially, was EXcellency
zimmerman, looking for all the world
like a Missouri farmer, and gently old
and awkward like schoolmaster.
Breath and comfort came back. re-
member noting how broad. and just a
bit rough. his hand was; how his red
dish mustache dropped, as little chic
as Tucson. Ariz. And so. though his
bow was stiff and military, he stepped
into my tradition made picture of the
Ausawtige Amt, and was not of II.
His English was sitter and slower
than the fluent oxford speech of the
young Rhodes scholars who grace Will
helmstrasse, and at first we talked
slowly. Introductory official interviews
are always stupid, for the official, even
when he knows that he has censor TO
comb your report Of the talk. and knows
how easily he can deny saying any
thing. never says much.
That time We discussed America ne
had been here some years before and
hadn't been able to smoke cigar on
the pier and insisted that !, and not he,
was native to the land Of Nerbotens.
Hoped for Indian Revolt
zone more pig-headed person. re-
member thinking to myself, who IL
going to know a thousand times as
much as !, and then insist that he
knows how / feel, into the bargain"
But the Impotence on my part wore
of: his chubby chunkiness and his
straightforward gray eyes were so hon
est. We talked about the loyalty OF
India. and profound German hopes that
the northern frontier could be stirred
up 10 sufficient irritating rebellion TO
divert English troops from Turkey.
"No, we get so very little news he
commented, as we explored the com
nercial geography map behind the
little red sofa; and he said II IN a
voice that seemed TO me dismally child
like.
remembered how one Of the old
American correspondents had described
20 me, just q day before bulgaria
Joined "Mittel Europa" when thinner
mann. the schoolmaster, had suddenly
seized a pointer and actually lectured
him. beginning:
"This is war between two roads
and Bulgaria wants 70 be on the man
line"
Presently we approached the subject
Of the interview.
Looked TO Wilson for Peace
Peace. for many months, had been the
subject Of three-fourths Of all CONVEX
sation. Only the night before ] had
been 70 the Singakademie TO hear the
Beethoven Solemn Mass, and after
"Dona nobis Pacem' there had been an
ssterisk, and down IN the corner OF the
programme one had found, with
choke: ,
"Bitte inserin und auserIn frlenden
I've pray, an inner and an outer
peace" ,,.-. -
in food the Of resentment against
America. and the common people were
especially bitter over the Shipment o'
ammunitiOns. .,r la.
with the machinery OF peace negotia,
tiopg. What ! wanted 70 Know was u
the German nation would accept gladiy
tho initiation Of peace machinery py
tbc President, knowing that feeling IN
America was oro-Ally. And he had re-
,Iied after assuring me he felt that
iesders Of government everywhere must
fooI coucern for peace, that, how
aver unmeant. given an American note
- England Just little tart IN tone, as
means Of saving the German face the
neooIc could be led TO accept American
Leadership for peace 1n
"Tbc German people are easily led
he added. -..L, -
After that I used 70 catch sight OF
- of,cn lie was not socially very
nonular. and yet he wso slngul"riy
p,iibont epemie1. Twice ! met him ~
The T,ergartsn. stopping to talk WIN