Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-11
SAYS BETH|MANN
DECEIVED PEOPLE
German Writer Blames For
mer Chancellor for Blocking
advantageous Peace.
By the Associated Press.

| By the Asscei2ted Press.
COPENHAGEN, October 1o.-Appar-
| emily German writer's are endeavor-
ing to place the blame for the procla-
nation Of Germany's intensified sub
marine warfare and the failure to Sc
cure an early peace advantageous to
Germany on the shoulders Of the gov
| ernment under former Chancellor Won
Bethmann- Hollweg.
To this end George Bernhard, in
leading editorial in the Berlin Vossische
Zefttng, declared that il" the Georman
people had not been deceived and mis-
| led by Bethmann.s government 1t is
doubtful whether the submarine war
| fare would have been proclaimed and
President Wilson probably would have
succeeded long ago in bringing about
a peace without conqucrors or con-
duered." as outlined in his message to
! Congress in January. 1917.
Says Foreign Office Lied.
| In his article Rerpnard fla thy cha rges
that the German foreign Office lied re-
| gardng the peace steps taken in Wash
| ington at the end of 1916 and the be-
ginning of 1917 by Count Won Bern
Storff. When President Wilson's Janu-
| airy speech became public in Germany.
says Bernhard, nobody knew that Pres
| ident Wilson. and Won Bernstorf were
| In the closest communication. Above
all it was never made known. that
President Wilson had received Ger
maHy's and also Englands peace con-
! ditions." American newspapers reach
J ing Germany early in 1917. the writer
nto3nAa W "a ~
peace steps taken by Won Bernstorff.
The German foreign Office was asked
for information, the writer contif-
ues. and declared that Won Bernstorf
i was acting without instructions, since
comm un icatioI1 with the United States
was SO irregular.
I'VE know that this information was
at least technically. false" says Bern
hard.
Asks Reason for classifying"
The writer then asks what was the
reason for the false information. An
swerinE his own question, he points
! out that this was precisely the time
when the campaign for intensified sub
marine warfare was being conducted.
IRethnann, he asserts. was opposed to.
the submarine warfare. but was afraid
| of arousing too intense opposition
against himself, and SO remained si-
ilent.
IAN overwhelming majority Of the
jpeople were against peace mediation
by President Wilson, but nobody in
Germany could know that the declar-
alton OF unlimited submarine warfare
not only was opposed to President
Wilson'S ideas. but also would be felt
! by him as a moral blow in the face"
says the writer.
President Wilson was obliged, Bern
| hard declares. either to believe that
lGermany's policy was double-tongued
we're two governments in Germany.
Discusses Peace Steps of 1916-17.
Discussing the peace steps taken at
! Washington in 1916 and 1917, the
writer says:
IF we had known that President
Wilson had been continually re-
quested to act as peace mediator and
even that specified conditions had
been submitted. our action would
have been different. Had we known
that at the moment unrestricted SUBJ
marine warfare was declared Presi-
role of mediator. the German people,
! in the great majority. would never
have tolerated policy which brought
u7on them the reputation OF being
double -tongued.'
All this. says Bernhard, goes far to-
| war'l making President Wilson's
| sharp words understandable.
1T also explains Ambassador &C.
rard's unmeasured speech, when one
! recalls that the German government
! permitted him to make a friendly adj
dress in the presence of high officials
at the very moment when the subma-
, rine campaign was already decided