The Washington herald., 1918-11-01


American Embassy and reported the
results of his interview with Falken-
hayn. The German chief of staff had
said that Germany would very much
like to discuss peace but that Ger
MAN. could not state her terms IN
advance as such an action would be
generally interpreted as a sign of
weakness. But one thing could be de-
pended on; the allies could obtain far
more favorable terms at that
moment that at any future time.
Enver told me that the Germans
would be willing to surrender all the
territory that had been taken from
the French and practically all of
Belgium. But the one thing on which
they had definitely settled was
the permanent desmemberment of
Serbia. Not an acre of Macedonia
would be returned to Serbia and
even parts of old Serbia would
permanent dismemberment of Serbia
and even parts of old Serbia would
be retained; that is, Serbia would be-
come much smaller country than
she had been before the Balkan wars,
and, in fact, she would practically
disappear as an Independent state.
The meaning of all this was lprarent.
even then. Germany had won the OBJ
Ject for which she had really gore
to war; a complete route from Ber-
lin to Constantinople and the East;
part and a good part of the pam
German ''Mittel Europa" had thus
become an accomplished military fact
Apparently Germany was willing 10
give up the overrun provinces of
Northern France and Belgium, pro-
yided that the entente would consent
to her retention of these conquests.
The proposal which Falkenhayr made
then did not materially differ from
That which she put forward in the
latter part of 1918. This I;nver-
Falkenhayn interview, as reported to
me, shows that it is no suddenly cen
celVed German plan, but that it has
oeen Germany's scheme from the
first.
Applied for Leave.
In all this I saw no particular prom
ise of an early peace. Yet I thought
that l should lay these facts before
the President 1 therefore applied to
Washington for a leave of absence.
which was granted.
l had my farewell interview with
Enver and Talaat on the thirteenth of
January. Doth men were in their
most delightful mood. Evidently both
were turning over in their minds. as
was i, all the momentous events that
mad taken place in Turkey. and in the
world, since my first meeting with
them two years before. Then Talaat
and Enver were merely desperate ad-
Venturers who had reached high DO
Eltl0nG nv aGfrnffnr, A..
their position was insecure, for at any
moment another revolution might
plunge them into the obscurity from
which they had sprung. But now
they were the unquestioned despots
Of the Ottoman Empire, the allies of
the then strongest military power in
the world ana the conquerors-at
least they so regarded themselves-of
the British Navy. At this moment of
their great triumph-the allied expe-
dtion to the Dardanelles had evacu-
ated their positions only two weeks
before-both Talaat and Enver re-
garded their country again as a world
power.
I hear you are going home to spend
a lot of money and re-elect your res
ident," said Talaat-this being a joe
ular reference to the fact that I was |
the chairman of the finance commit |
tee of the Democratic National Conn
mittee. That's very foolish: why
don't you stay here and give II to |
Turkey? We need it more than your |
people do
Appreciated Compliment.
But we hope you are coming back |
soon.'' he added. I'VE feel almost a .
though you were one of us. lou and |
We have really grown up together; /
You came here about the same time /
that we took office and we don't know /
how we could ever get so well ac-
auainted with another man. We have
grown fond of you. too. We have had
our differences. and pretty lively ones
at times, but we have always found |
you fair. and we respect American
policy in Turkey "a Won have renra