New-York tribune., 1918-12-15

| Would it be called anti-American, since
it was published after we entered the
war?
CAPTAIN LEsTER-There is no
question about that, the particular por-
tion of the editorial being anti-Amcri-
can, contrary to the governmental poll
cics, contrary to the desires of the
people as shown by tho action Of Con-
grcss, and contrary to the established
policy of the Chief Executive, the Prcsi-
dent 1t was anti-Amcrican and pro-
German. 1t was pro- German in the
sense that it favored the exact things
that Germany was to accomplish by ITS
propaganda system in the United
States, as conducted by its direct
agents.
Senator Sterling read the rest (of the
editorial. "What would you say its ef-
feet, as whole would be ?" he asked.
CAPTAIN LESTER-If every official
in the government service of the United
States, from the Chief Executive, and
every male citizen of the age of egh-
teen and up had read that article and
believed it, they would have quit, laid
down.
SENATOR STERLING-And there
would have been no unconditional sur
render, by this time?
been an unconditional surrender of the
United States.
SENATOR NELSON-To Germany?
CAPTAIN LESTER-Yes, sir.
The object of the editorial, or those
responsible for it, whether it is the
publisher or somebody that was direct
ing the publishers efforts, was to get
action on the part of the person to
whom it was directed, which is the
public of the United States in this
instance; or, on the other hand, to get
Notes viii Be Read
The wireless messages from Hale to
Hearst which Captain Lester put into
the record were intended chiefly to
show an anti American attitude More
later They Will include, the captain
indicated, the detention in Berlin Of
Americans, ,he treatment accorded
Ambassador Gerard, regarding the
Yarrowdale prisoners, the Japanese
situation, Ireland and Poland
The first wirelesa read was dated
March l, 1917. during the period when
this country was being driven to war
by German aggression. 1t was in skel-
etonized form and read:
"First Presidents concept quote
Armed neutrality end quote not un-
derstood here stop Armed neutrality
of century ago was concert of ma
tons resisting British assertions
right to control seas stop Precisely
what is Mr.. Wilson's idea armed neu-
trallty present day unknown here
stop If President means assert right
American ships pass to from Ameri-
can English German neutral ports
with lawful cargoes this believed en-
tlrely accord precepts international
law precedents American history
stop But thus suddenly to assert
rights of neutrals apparently against
the Germany after having two years
submitted British pretensions rule
seas confuses European mind para
graph Presidents idea arm merchant
ships arouses profound astonsh-
ment as arming merchants undoubt-
edly places them category combatants
wh!ch legitimate prey stop Berlin
isn't without information of famous
Sullivan law and wonders why Amer
lean President so far departs from
usages deemed necessary even by
Tammany as to legitimatize posses
SION and use private weapons"
New York Law Quoted
"As the committee will probably
know" Captain Lester added, "the Sui
livan law referred to is the law which
makes 1t crime to carry weapons in
the City of New York. 1t will be noted
by the committee that this cablegram
was was, sent after the breaking off of our
diplomatic relations and was sent over
the German wireless, every one of
which messages was not only subject
to censorship by the German Foreign
Office but subject to scrutiny. Moth
ing could go over that wire that did
not meet the approval of the German
government. There are quite a number
of these messages.
"The next one which I shall read is
dated January 13, 1917, and is as fol-
lows:
Feeling tonight Berlin hardly be
described as one unexpected disap-
polntment but certainly is profound
establishment (stop). Past month GER
tain number persons optimistically
endowed have believed early peace
within realm possibility this hope
being based undeniable successes
Central arms everywhere generally
satisfactory economic position Cen
trails and knowledge growing strin-
gency England France Russia Italv
together with impossibility under
standing that Entente could possibly
! hope achieve continuation war (stoD).
'Germany's protfer was made alb
solute sincerity and with every will
ingness give Europe and world last
ing peace onbased mutual respect
rights all nations great all stop
But no man woman child all Ger
many for moment dream submitting
to such terms as infatuated circle
men moving unreal atmosphere
Downing Street, Printing House
Square wildly talking of imposing
| ODOO tho fOUr 0llioc pnntra1 LN,,o,o
victories because sincere lovers
waive advantages further certain
histories because sincere lovers
peace paragraph war will go on.'o
SENATOR STERLING-Thatr refers
to the Presidents note?
CAPTAIN LESTER-That refers to
President Wilson's note in reply to the
|