New-York tribune., 1917-12-18
More Light on the Fa-
nous journalistic Doc
ument Which a Ger
man Cruiser Sank at
Sea-MaximilianHar-
den Corroborated 1t at
the Time and Com
mented Upon Ger
many's Misfortune to
Have Such a Ruler

Have Such a Ruler
New facts came to light Yesterday
concerning the origin Of William Bay
ard Hale's remarkable interview IN
1908 with Emperor Wilhelm IL. N
which the Kaiser bitterly attacked Eng
land and virtually predicted the pres
cnt world war. The story. as told IN
The Tribune yesterday, proving the au-
thenticity OF Mr.. Hale's report of the
Kaiser's warlike and boastful utter
ances long before the war began, was
not only confirmed by those who were
instrumental in sending Mr.. Hale to
sec the Kaiser. but was considerably
elaborated by them
Il now appears that Mr.. Hale was not
sent abroad to interview the Kaiser at
all, but merely was commissioned to
write an intimate study of him. The
Kaiser. however liked Hale and con-
sented, I'm an impulsiye moment. TO
grant the interview. which afterward
Prince Won Buelow, the Imperial Ger
man Chancellor. and the German en-
bassy in Washington suppressed in the
United States, frantically declaring
that their monarch. by his loose and
indiscreet talk, might precipitate war
with England before Germany was
ready for it,
The facts about llale's trip to the
court Of the Kaiser were these: In
April. 1908, Hale performed a journals
tic enterprise for "The New York Times"
which attracted attention TO him. lie
was sent TO Washington to write an
extended story on the daily life of
President Roosevelt lie remained
week in Washington. The fruits of his
observations we're a four-page story in
the Times detailing in an intensely
human way just how the President went
through the routine of his official and
social duios.
From a Casual Beginning
The Times" then commissioned Mr.
Hale 10 write articles in similar vein
about other famous personages. The
Kaiser was hit upon as a iit subject.
lie was active. virile and adventurous
His life was susceptible of picturesque
treatment by good writer. Mr.. Hale
was told TO get as close to the Kaitcr
ass he could; to write Of his daily life.
his official world. his sports and his
social interests. II was necessary that
Mr.. Hale should meet the Kaiser. In
fact, il was not supposed that he would
get closer to his subject than the gates
of Potsdam
Armed with influential letters. in
cluding some from the German Ambas-
sador. Mr.. Hale went to Berlin. He
proceeded to take up post not at the
outside gates of Potsdam, but inside
the kaiser's very courtyards. In some
way he was presented TO the Kaiser,
who at that time, weary with the July
heat in Berlin, was contemplating a
trip in northern waters on the i'm
perial yacht HOhenzollern.
Hale spoke German. His recent ar
rival from America. filled with fresh
American viewpoint of world politics,
his apparent sympathy with things
German. interested the Kaiser. Hale
had not come for an interview. He had
been commended by the German Am
bassador as a writer of high repute
who wanted merely to describe the
kaiser's life.
So when the imperial yacht Hohen-
zollern cast off from the imperial dock
at kiel. Hale, dressed in an Immaculate
white linen suit, sat on the deck
guest, but not yet confident OF the
Emperor
Gradually an ambitious project ger
minated in Mr.. Hale's mind. On the
yacht his personal contact with the
Kaiser became frequent. Meetings on
the deck became casual and informal.
By the time the yacht had arrived of
Bergen, Norway. the Kaiser and Mr..
Hale were as intimate as il is possible
for a kaiser and a newspaper cor
respondent to be.
Just when or under what circum
stances Mr.. Hale sat down and accom-
plished his Purpose Of drawing from
the Kaiser his views, which were des-
/ tined TO create a furore in Berlin lest
they be published, is not known.
Mr.. Hale offered the interview first
/ 10 a London paper, which, for reasons
/ unknown, would not print it. Then
/ he offered it to "The New York Times"
! which. as has been already told was
unable to print il. Then he sold il TO
/ "The Century Magazine" which print
7 ed but never published it. Next was
the summary printed in "The New
York World" which was copied all
over the world and confirmed by Maxi
milan Harden, the most eminent jour
nalist in Germany. Then "The World"
repudiated its summary. The only man
who knows why it did so is dead. That
was Joseph Pulitzer himself.