Arizona republican., 1917-01-10


When we read last Monday morning Ambassador
Gerard's optimistic words at dinner given in his
honor by the American Association of Commerce at
Berlin ON Sunday night suspected that that would
mot be the last of it, that he would be called to
sort Of an accounting subjected some degree of
criticism This is what. among other things the am
bassador said
Never sinte the beginning of the war have the
relations Germany and the United States been
as cordial as now. | have brought back olive
branch the president-or don't you consider the
presidents message olive branch?
Il personally am convinced that as long as Ger
Inauy's is directed by such my friend
chancellor, and DR. Heffrich and Dr. sof; by Ad-
mrals Capele minister of the navy; Holtzen-
dorff ,head Of the naval general staff, and Won
Mueller naval advisor the EMPEROR; by Generals
Won Hindenburg Cchief Of the general staff and
Lldendorff first quartermaster generap, and last
but least, by my friend Zimmerman the relations
between the two countries are running no risk"
Now there is nothing in this language improper
deserving Of criticism and under another admins
traton there would have been criticism; but
under the present one hesant. generally unneutral
in sentiment. but fearful Of offending this bel
ligerent and now that felt that the language
Of Mr. Gerard would trepidation at
Washington
our present government is a school girl among
nations. You have noticed school girl warfare when
disputes between cliques very tmid school
girl who openly belongs neither clique fears that
an expression of frendliness toward disputant on
one side viii expose her 10 the resentment Of the
other She becomes generally unfriendly-and dis
liked and despsed-because two groups are unfrendy
toward each other.
50 our government. fearful Of having given Of
a ne all has lied Mr.
whether he correctly reported by the Overseas
News Agency, which sent abroad the story Of the
banquet If the reply should be in the affirmative
the state department it is constituted will suffer
acute embarrassment 1t hardly repudate the
statement Of Mr. Gerard say that he was vote
ing the sentiments only Of Mr. Gerard an American
citizen and not Mr.. Gerard, representative of the
American government That would mean to Ger
many that our relations with Germany cordial
ana that we do not recognize Chancellor Hollweg
Or Zimmerman, DR.. Helffrich and Won Hindenburg
admirable characters. The allies do not like any Of
these men, therefore should not like them The
allies would view with displeasure cordial relations
with Germany: therefore there should he no such
relations But We do not think the allies themselves
have been nearly sorely disturbed by the remarks
Of M Gerard Washington has been or as that
group Of citizens who believe that we should long
liza; who believe that blood relationship to one Of
the belgeTents should have drawn us into the war
Perhaps Mr. Gerard's speech was in part an
ezaggeration: Intentionally so as many most dinner
speeches 1t is probably true that our relations
with Germany are more cordial than they have been
al any time since the beginning Of the war They
could be that and stn be very cordial There is
no doubt that since the president served the purpose
Of Germany in transmitting its proposal for peace
conference, there is cordial feeling toward the
United States than there was few months ago when
we were vaporing and threatening Germany with
strict accountability and other penalties
As to the list Of eminent Germans mentioned by
MI Gerard who could be counted upon to maintain
friendly relations with the United States, we may
doubt whether that is wholly secondary matter
But considering the circumstances the dinner
the warming influence Of the wine that NAV have
been shed there, the business an ambassador wher
ever he may be- to cultivate frendiness we think Mr.
Gerard did very well a dinner orator