New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-13

II = =
u Berlin three years ago. He had
been one of the best story tellers in
the Knickerbocker Club. He was an
ex-Tammany judge. Nobody could have
imagined that he would make chapter
in the history of American diplomacy.
He has left the stock of American
backbone distinctly above par in Ber-
lin. He knew more ways Of saying
Go to" politely than any diplomat in
our service.
1--WE have 100000 reservists in Amer
lea" one Of the German high Of
ficials" intimated during one very
strained period "LoBdI reservists," pro-
nounced the official slowly. "And We
said Gerard, "have a good deal more
than 100000 lamp posts to hang them
to-"
There are two kinds OF American
diplomats abroad. There is the man
who is charmed to move in court circles.
lie strives TO please. He accents his
manner with an adopted European air.
The other kind works, and works hand
and glove with the American State De-
psrtment He wears poker face when
the State Department begs to inform
his majesty "either-or" and has
secret doubts about the "or." and keeps
a poker face when the State Depart
ment means every word Of it.
Typical of American Spirit
Bluff and hearty. with a Gramercy
Park assurance, rosy cheeks and a kind
but shrewd eye behind his glasses, Mr..
Gerard has looked Enthusiastically Ameri-
can. lie is witty. but not in the Berlin
way. Joseph Grew, first secretary, 30
they say, has put in more hours than
he cares 10 mention overtaking a &C.
rard sally that had escaped from the
luncheon table. High Germany saw
nothing funny in the ambassadors &C
counts o. "the hate hose turned nov
on England, now on Russia, now on
America, in the early days OF the war.
Gerard has the swift cordially OF a
popular man and an American poll
/ tician, but he is a little nearsighted
Captain Boyd, shortly after he was
returned to his Fatherland, met him IN
the corridor of the Esplanadc.
Good afternoon, your eXcellency,'
said the captain, clicking his heels to-
gether.
The CHEEKY Gerard voic, rang out as
he offered his hand, "How do you do
how do you do, and where have you
| been all this timer
! In the vernacular. Mr.. Gerard's job
has been "to put America across.
Ultimatum in hand, he used 60 APP
proach the Auswartige Amt. Long be-
/ fore he arrived, depend upon it,, any
number Of cablegrams had already
, poured in from America, quoting the
| anti-WilSon press, and emphasizing the
| dead weight against action Of the pa
eifist groups.
Propagandists Also Busy
! Al least three "German-friendly'
American journalists two lively and
convincing adventurers and one plau-
! sble touring German-American peace
/ propagandist with a wise mien had
| always been there before the hmbas-
| sador. The German Foreign Office
especially the anti-BeTnstorfY clique
| had invariably received beforehand the
un-American troupe in file and enter
talned them as angels, for they always
assured the Foreign Office that
America was bluffing, or fooling Eng
| land, or was afraid Of war in general
and German war in particular.
Nobody who wasn't in Berlin last
year, or. say, Mexico City in the days
Of rumor and the avalanche OF
meddlers. can take off his hat in true
appreciation Of the Gerard job. kle
put America across" lie cot away
with making the American notes sound
as II the President had an undivided
country behind him and was sure OF IT.
At least, whatever doubts either Won
Jaeow or Herr Zimmerman had, they
never quite "das't" And though they
aehed TO believe that Gerard didn't
moan il they never could tell when
he did.
Made Them Move Dogs
There was trouble at Rhueleben.
Certain dogs were a nuisance and Mr.
Gerard had repeatedly asked for their
removal
Remove them, or will 70 out to-
morrow with my shotgun" he said.
They never could tell II he meant
that, either, so they hurried tho dogs
away.
A large part Of the American colony
in Berlin, especially the chattering
women In the days when there was cake
and coffee enough 10 60 around for the
kaffeekatsch, did their bit. They were
more pro- German than the Germans.
They apologiEed once for Wilson aud
twice for Gerard, on Mondays, Wednes.
days snd Fridays. and adored war the
rest OF the week. and called the en-
bnssy untactful.
Yet with all that in the air Gerard
doIivar,d tho American noto. AMI al,