Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-08-19

had sent him word of my return
and that he would like me to call
at his palace either that noon or
at 4 p. m.
told him that p. m. would be
more agreeable to me. That noon,
however, the president of the min
istry of Vienna was assassinated
and the ReichskanZler called me up
again and stated that owing to cer-
tain developments since morning. ne
would be too much engaged to keep
the appointment he had made with
Inc and asked me to make it 1880
the following morning, which was
Sunday.
The next morning, accordingly. 1
called at the ReichSkanzlers palace
much what it was they wanted of
me.
1 was ushered into a very large
room in the corner of which was u
business-like looking flat-topped
desk but which was otherwise eIap-
orately furnished. The Reichskanz-
Ter, tall, broad-shouldered. hand
some specimen of a man, came over
to me. and putting his arm in mine,
walked me to a seat beside the desk.
He asked me what 1 would smoke,
and upon my taking a cigaret, he
did likewise.
THE Kaiser's been telling me,
| Doctor he said, ''of your recent
visit to America. and 1 would like
to ask you a few questions"
l said that I was always glad to
talk of America. Indeed, l was
particularly glad of the opportunity
to speak with the Prime Minister
of Germany at that time.
Then followed a bewildering sue
eession of questions, the purpose of
which was not at all clear to me.
We had a peculiar conversation
| half in German, half in English.
The Reichskanzler did not speak
English particularly well.
How are things in America ?"
he asked. Did you have any OPP
portunity to gauge the political sit
uation? Who do you think will be
the next president? Do you think
: that Americans are opposed to
peace because that would end their
| chance to make money out of the
war? Are your people so mercenary
that they would like to Sc the war
prolonged for the sake of the money
they can make out of it?"
No, your Excellency." I replied.
you are quite wrong if you imagine
that my countrymen would like to
prolong the war for the sake of
| war profits. That is very far from
| being the case. On the contrary.
the country at large is anxious for
peace"
Don't forget your people are MAX
ing a lot of money out of this. war"
the Reichshanzel persisted. They
are becoming very rich. They will
| soon have all the gold in the world.
Putting an end to the war would to
great extent end American oppor-
tunities for making money on this
enormous scale"
That may all be true" I replied,
but fortunately my countrymen
think more of the blessings of peace
and liberty than they do of war
and profits, and the sooner peace
can be brought about on a basis
which will have some assurance of
permanency the better we will
like it.'
He switched the subject. He asked
me how 1 had been treated in
America In view of the fact that !
had come from Germany
cellency" I replied. when I first
arrived in port. That is to say, 1
was examined more thoroughly by
the officials than I had even been
before. 1t was considerable of an
ordeal they put me through before
they established to their own salts
faction that I was not spy, but
when it was all over I felt rather
glad to feel that my country was SO
keeniy alive to the fact that the
greatest precautions were neces-
sary"
Wilson has the greatest oppor-
tunity ever presented to a man to
make his name Immortality bring
ing about peace in the world" he
went on. I'VE feel now that he is
not our friend, but friendly to the
allies; but. nevertheless. he may be
able to see that if this war is pro-
longed indefinitely, it will mean the
destruction of ali the nations m
volved in it. Do you think there is
any possibility of America entering
the war;"
That. of course. will depend.
your Excellency." I answered, upon
developments. I don't believe nv
country is anxious to fight, but I'm
quite sure that nothing in the world
will keep us out of it If our rights
as neutral nation are not re-
spected."
I'VE certainly don't like the way
Mr.. Hughes has been talking on the
stump" declared the Reichskanzler.
did you hear any of his speeches
or any of Wilson's?"
said 1 had had no opportunity
| to hear any of the campaign
speeches. but thdt I had followed
tnem in the newspapers.
We'll. did you gather from what
you read that the American people
want TO see peace in Europe or do
they want the war to go on SO they
can continue to make fortunes out
of it?"
Again I replied that was certain
our country would never be influ-
Ln"ed by su:h sor,iid considerations
as were imp.ied in the kelchskan-
zl1r's question. but that il the right
kind OF peace could ne brought
about. the whole cclLtiy would
ees-.- -=1brace It,
ITO BE Conffx=7i