The Washington times., 1917-02-02
Ambassadors Iron Nerve Per-
mits Him to Smile, Although
Banishment May Be Near.
NOT PREPARING TO 60
"WatchfuIy Waiting" Develop
ments, But Has Made No
Plans to Leave.

Count Won Bernstorf, the German
ambassador. borrowed a phrase from
President Wilson today to describe
how he felt in this period OF suspense
which may be broken at any moment
by banishment from the country.
'I'm wetchfully waiting" the am
bassador said. when asked what he
thought the outcome would be of the
crisis which has brought the United
States and Germany to the verge of
suspended diplomatic relations.
But l positively am not packing
up to CO." the ambassador added.
Nerve Has been steady.
The German Ambassadors iron
nerve. which has kept him smiling
through the succeeding crises in Ger
man-American affairs, has not failed
him this time. He was grave when
he had his usual morning audience
with newspaper men today. Perhaps
he realized more fully than his gov
eminent seems to realize, the disas-
NaSNo NAANSN " AhC SCIAha CduoC
which would result from the forced
entry OF the United States into the
war.
But the ambassadors face still wore
a smile. He seems to enjoy a sort OF
relaxation in his daily talks with the
newspaper men. He regards them all
as his friends.
Wants to Return 10 Germany.
II the threatened break between
the governments comes and the am
bassador Is given his passports, Count
Won Bernstorn has let 1t be known
that he wants to return TO Germany.
The suggestion that the ambassador
and his stan be "interned" at Palm
Beach, or some other American re-
sort is not even regarded as a good
joke at the embassy.
What is likely to happen, IL the
ambassador is recalled. Is that q re-
quest will be made to the United
States Government to permit the
chartering OF a ship on which the
German ambassador and his stan.
with all movable effects of the em-
bassy, may be taken through the
allied blockade, either direct to Ger
man waters, or to a Scandinavian
port.
Includes All Attaches.
II passports are given Count Won
Bernstorff they will call not only for
his departure. but the departure Of
the entire embassy staff. This would
include Prince Won HatEfeldt.' and
Haniel Won Haimhausen, the coun-
selors Of the embassy; Heinrich Al
bert, commercial attache. who has
headquarters in New York, and ofg
corps OF clerks and minor attaches OF
the embassy. all German, and nearly
all soldiers.
Where objection is likely to arise
from the allied governments IL re-
quest for safe conduct II made II
that the return of this force would
add such able fighting men to the
German ranks.
United States Is Responsible.
But 1t was indicated today that Ger
many may not ask safe conduct of the
allies, through the United States. IL
relations are broken. 1t was ex-
planned that the United States il re-
sponsible for the safety of foreign
ENJOYS given passports until they
reach their own country.
Consequently the German govern
ment may make no requests for safe
conduct. but rely on the ability OF the
United states to take steps to provide
for a chartered ship by which the
embassy stan would be sent back to
Germany under protection OF the
American flag.
Embassy IL Renovated.
Within the last few months the Ger
man embassy has been entirely reno
waited. Before the recent return OF the
Countess Won Bernstorff the three-story
and basement building at l4l9
Massachusetts avenue was acquired as
embassy property. Most OF the offices
OF the embassy were moved to this
building. leaving in the embassy proper
only the advisers. Prince Hatfield and
Counselor Won Haimhausen.
Count and Countess Won Bernstorff
are attached to their home in the
embassy. They are attached to
Washington. and have been extreme
ly popular here since the Ambassa-
dor assumed his present post, eight
years ago.
But Count Won Bernstorff realises
that affairs have advanced to a point
here where he is powerless 20 iniiu-
ence the situation. He can only
''watchfully watt the dramatic turn
which events may take at any mo-