New-York tribune., 1918-01-10
Hale S Kaiser
Interview Gone
From Harvard
Only Copy Disappears While
DIR. Francke, German
Curator, Is in Charge
lStof Correspondence


known copy of the famous Kaiser inter
view, the suppression OF which was ex..
posed by The Tribune on December II,
1t is alleged, has been secreted or. de-
stroyed by DR.. Kuno Francke, former
German curator Of the Germanic Muse
UNI at Harvard College. Information
to this effect has been transmitted to a
United States Senator by a member of
the Board of Overseers of Harvard
College in response to request for the
production of the document for publi-
cation.
Ever since The Tribune published a
description of the contents of the inter
view with Emperor William which Will
liam Bayard Hale obtained in 1908, and
reported its subsequent suppression by
THE Century Magazine" under most un-
usual circumstances involving the Ger
man Foreign Office and the visit of a
German battleship to New York City,
influential Washington officials have
been endeavoring to procure public =
tion of the single copy Of the inter
view known to be in existence
Only Copy Given to Harvard
The Tribune was enabled to inform
leading member of the Foreign Rela-
tions Committee of the United States
Senate interested in the matter that this
copy Of the interview had been turned
over to Harvard College as an historical
document. This information was later
confirmed by William w. Ellsworth, of
New York, former president of the Cen
tury Company, who urged this Senator
to use every effort to give the docu-
ment to the American public as q
further evidence of the war ambition;
the Emperor of Germany held as far
back as 1908
According to additional information
laid before the Senator, the single copy
of the interview had been turned over
to the Germanic Museum by Donald
Scott a Harvard graduate, who had
personal charge Of the suppression
negotiated by the German Foreign Of
fee with "The Century Magazine
This Information was communicated
to Harvard College authorities, with
request that the document be turned
over to the government for publication.
For the last two weeks Harvard Off
cials have been searching the historical
archives of the Wdener Library and
the Germanic Museum. But not trace
Of the interview which showed the
kaiser's war lust, maligned the Roman
Catholic Church, reeked Of abuse Of
England, denounced the japanese and
disparagcd the Sultan of Turkey could
be found. Not even was there any evil
dence that the document had been re-
ceived by the Harvard Library or Mu-
scum.
Francke Was in Charge
Then Harvard officials recolccted
that at the time It is believed the copy
OF the interview was sent to Camb ridge
DR.. Kuno Francke was curator of the
Germanc Museum. The German pro-
fessor has since been compelled to
sever his connection with the college
on account of his participation in pro-
German propaganda. He is still re-
siding in Boston, it is reported here,
and no apparent step has been taken
by the government to either place him
under surveillance or to commit him TO
an interrment camp.
That the document was put out Of
the way Oh American readers by Or.
Francke is the conviction of Harvard
officials. In this connection member
Of tho Board Of Overseers at Harvard
writing to the United States Senator
who has been endeavoring to secure
the copy of the interview, stated:
"lf it went to the Germanic Museum
il must have gone into Kuno I'rancke's
pocket, and he is so loyal a Prussian
and SO abject Kaiserite that he doubt
less destroyed it,"
While the single known copy of the
interview to be in existence is ap-
parently beyond reach Of officials, the
efforts to secure an authentic copy Of
the document will not stop, it is stated
1t is likely that the Department Of
Justice, cooperating with the Commit
tee on public. information, may be
asked to lend its efforts to locating
another copy. Information reaching
Washington alleges that at least one
other copy Of the "Century" proof sheet
exists, and that it is still in the pos
session OF man who was associated
with The Century Magazine" at the
time of the suppression. Every effort
viii be made, it is stated, to secure
this copy.