The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1917-08-17
KAISER'S NOTE TO WILSON
CALLED BY GERMAN PRESS
IRRESPONSIBLE CONDUCT

Copenhagen, August 15-Publica-
ton of Emperor Williams telegram
to President Wilson in the memoirs
of former Ambassador Gerard and the
lame and belated attempt at explana-
ton made by the ssmiofficial Nord
Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, calls
forth criticism in the German press of
what is termed the German Emperor's
irresponsible conduct of the foreign
affairs of the empire.
The various Berlin newspapers
comment on the system which permits
a sovereign to pass upon such pro-
posal from a neutral power and to
draft an important state document
without consultation with a RESPONSE
BILE minister, or even without the nee
essary record subsequently being
made.
The incertitude Of the semiofficial
organ, which can only say that "pos-
sibly" the emperor may have drafted
some such memorandum, occasions
general discomfort.
The German press also sharply
cirticises the action of the censor who
prevented the publication of any ref
erence to the Gerard disclosures for
! nearly a week after the entente and
neutral newspapers had printed full
| particulars, and the inability of the
new German foreign secretary, Dr..
Won Kuehlmann, in his first official ac-
ton, to produce a firmer or more con-
vincing refutation or explanation.
J The Berlin newspapers intimate that
the nf ca al
bility or nonresponsibility for Emper-
or Williams autographed document
will be raised in the Reichstag, the
situation in general lines resembles
! that arising from the famous inter
view with the Emperor printed in the
London Daily Telegraph several years
/ ago, which likewise appeared without
the chancellor. foreign secretary or
other responsible official having any
definite idea of its contents.
The most comprehensive presenta-
ton of press opinion is given by the
Hamburger Flemdenblat 1t criti-
cises the delay in appearance of the
semiotficial statement, which, the
newspaper says, was neither adroit
or forceful, betrays the embarrass-
ment OF the writer and adopts tone
of discouraged defiance.
The Fremdenblat is inclined to
question the veracity of the assertion
made by the Nord Deutsche ALICE
meme Zeitung that the document was
not telegram, saying that if Ambas-
sador Gerard really characterized mere
notes jotted down to assist his mem
DRY. as a formal telegram from the
emperor, it would undoubtedly be il
correct, but adding that the semioffi-
clal newspaper does not question that
the ideas were the emperor's.
The Fremdenblat concludes that the
explanation of the Nord Deutsche
Allgemeine Zeitung is not calculated
TO raise German prestige and admon-
ishes Foreign Secretary Won Kuehl-
mann, when next he is confronted by
revelations from the other side, to
deny them boldly and stoutly.
Count Won Reevntlow, writing in
the Iages Zeitung, shifts the blame
for the emperor's irresponsible ac-
ton from his majesty to DR.. Won
Bethmann- Hollweg, the former i'm
! perial chancellor, who, the writer
says, should have been present.
The count attacks the former chan
ceiior for failing to warn the emper-
or about the insidious personality of
the ambassador"
In all the press comment the Ger
man emperor and the government Of
tlcials get most Of the hard knocks.
The substance of Mr.. Gerard's state
ments is largely ignored.