Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-12-07

themselves on the German side.
Bielaski told the committee that
Hale was on the Hearst payroll for
$500 a week, and also was employed
at $4,000 a year by publicity Or
ganizatfbn formed in this country by
DR.. Bernard Dernburg. the German
propaganda.
Suggesting on June 2, 1918. that the
time was favorable ito get Hearst to
send first rate journalist to Berlin
Bernstorff told the foreign Office that
the man selected was Hale. who he
said, had been a confidential agent OF
the embassy isnce' the beginning OF
the war and was bound as such by
contract to June %, 1918.
Hearst" the ambassadors mes
sage said, sis not aware that Hale is
our agent, but knows him only as
Germanophile journalist, who has
contributed leading articles to pa
pers."
Hale. according to Bielaski, was
paid by the German government to
visit Rumania, and if possible pre-
vent entrance of that nation into the
war. Mr.. Hearst, Bielaski said, was
ignorant of Hale's employment on the
latter mission.
Bielaski said Germany never succeed
ed in seducing an American official ''is
we EXCEPT Congressman Buchanan Of
Illinois. VINO got mixed up with Won
Rintelen in Labor's Peace Council"
From the diary Of DR.. Karl A. Fuehr.
German agent brought to America by
o~He ar
labelled important list of names"
which, Mr.. Bielaski said, contained
practically all who were actively pro-
German prior to our entrance in the war
and few who were active afterwards"
| The list included Prof. Albert Bush.
nell. Hart, Professor Hugo Munster
berg and Professor kuno Francke CT
| Harvard
| Following is the message of June .
sent by Bernstorff through Buenos
Aires and Stockholm:
In conformity to your excellency's
wish. I suggest that the present is IA
vorable time to get Hearst to send a
first rate Journalist to Berlin. The man
selected, w. B. Hale has been, as your
excellency knows, since the beginning
Of the war, confidential agent OF the
embassy and as such has been bound
! by contract until June q, 1918. In max
ing this arrangement the main idea
was that Hale would be the most suit
able man to start the reorganization of
! the news service after peace on tina
right lines.
! II request full confidence may be ac-
corded to Hale. who will bring with
him a letter Of recommendation from
me to Dr. Amman. Hearst is not aware
that Hale is our agent but knows him
/ only as Germanophile journalist who
has contributed leading articles to pa.
pers.'
Another message dated June 5, 1916.
| said:
Hale tells me, and Hearst confirms,
that the latter is rather hurt that on
Wiegand's account the World gets into
all the important Berlin interviews I
recommend that under suitable circum-
stances Hale should, TOR obvious rea-
sons, be given preference. as Hearst or
gans have during the past always plac-
ed themselves outspokenly on our side
! Others in the list included DR.. Ed
mund Won Mach. Cambridge, Mass !;
! Prof. John w. Burgess. Newport, r.
/ l.; DR.. David Starr Jordan. Berkeley,
Cal: Peter S. Grossecup. Untod
States federal judge. Chicago: Os-
wald Garrison Willard. New York
Evening Post; William Randolph
Hearst, New York American; Ber-
nard Ridder, New York Stats Zen
tung: Edward A. Rumely. New York
Evening Mail; Rob, l. Ford. Free
mans Journal, New York; Rev Fa-
Their Thirney. American Catholic
! Weekly, New York; and George $.
! Fiereck. New York
] On this list were recorded a score
! Of others. many of national repute
/ and members of college and univer-
! sity faculties throughout the country.
4 Besides this list. Mr.. Bielaski also
/ presented a supplemental list ot
I about so names of others to whom
! he said German propaganda matter
was mailed out who were not be-
/ lieved to be friendly to the cause.
| This list. the committee decided to
! withhold from the record.
MT. bleldSkl produced letCerS LII.
Hale wrote to Dr. Albert. German
! propagandist, advising how notes
written by Secretary Bryan during
the Lusitania controversy should be
! answered.
! Mr.. Bielaski told the committee
that in October, 1914. Bernstorff
wrote a letter addressed to Albert
and Dernsburg in which he said the
Washington Post was offered to him
| for $2,000,000 This offer was made,
| he said, with the understanding that
| the Post owners would buy the paper
-back at the end Of the war for $780,,
600.
| A communication from Fuehr 70
! the German foreign Office dated Aug.
?, 1916, said the Washington Post had
been friendly to Germany up to that
| time, but recently had shown indi-
cations of Joining the enemy The
/ change was attributed by Fuehr to
the Russian ambassador and he said
| the policy had changed since the
death of the late John X. Mclean.
| In Il letter 10 Bernstorff- Fuehr
said the Washington Post may be
1 lost to us if it cannot be put in the
| hands of Mr.. Hearst"
| Bielaski said former Mayor Nc
| CURE of Syracuse received $4,000
l -, Il -4s ~ f%,.