New-York tribune., 1918-04-25
Jagow, Replying to Lichnovsky,
Admits Britain Tried to Avert War
Continued from, page l


warned US already in the summer OF
1913 that we would become involved in
a universal war for Austria is entirely
unknown to me. know just rs little
clared in the spring Of 1914 that there
would soon be war.
Gives Lichnowsky Credit
For Negotiating Treaty
"In regard to the significant events
of which he speaks was just as little
informed as he himself! Events like
the English visit to Paris--Sir Edward
Grcy's first visit to the Continent
would have been made known to the
ambassador, and we gave information
about the secret naval treaty between
England and Russia, but he did not
want to believe!
when Prince Lichnowsky boasts
colonial treaty form corresponding
to our wishes he must not be deprived
of the credit: strong pressure, how
ever, had been necessary i'll order to
make him support with moro emphasis
our wishes.
when Prince Lichnowsky says that
he had received authorization to con-
clude the treaty after he had said be-
fore that the treaty had failed there
WITH there is a contradiction, the ex-
planation of which we leave 20 the
prince. Lichnowsky's statement that
we had refused the publication Of the
open success for him is an unprece-
dented insinuation which can only be
explained on the basis of an cgo-cen-
trio view of things.
"The treaty would have had no prac
ticsl and moral success-onc Of it's
main aims was to create friendly
atmosphere between US and England
had its publication been greeted by
violent attacks against 'Pcrfidious AL
bion' in our Anglophobian press and
our Parliament. This doubtless would
have been caused by the contcmpora-
neous publication of the so-called
against English treachery which the
sor treaty and our treaty would no
doubt have provoked would hardly
have been hushed by the assurance of
English bona fdes.
Would Publish Treaty
At Favorable Moment
with justified precaution we in
tended to publish the text Of the treaty
at favorable moment when criticism
would not be so acute; if possible, to-
gether with The Bagdad treaty, which
was being concluded. The fact that
between England and us two great
agreements had been concluded would
have favored the acceptance Of the
treaties and would have helped to
pass over the mistake of the Portu-
guese treaty. 1t was our considera-
tion for the effect of the treaty, which
we hoped would improve and not
darAen our relations to England, tina.
kept us back from publishing the
treaty.
"Also it is true-if not directly
that the considerations at that time
were Influenced by the endeavors to
satisfy our economic interests in the
Portuguese colonies, which would have
been more difficult if the treaty had
been made public. Prince Lichnowsky
perhaps, could not have seen these
conditions from London, but he should
have trusted our decision instead OF
substituting his personal motives and
suspicious for his lack of understand
ing. He surely would have found con-
among
English statesmen.
"The speeches of the ambassador had
called out in our country many attacks
He was in favor of the creation OF a
better atmosphere in which alone the
rapprochement could become mature
demanding that in our public opinion
there be expressed confidence in oul
English policy and in our London rep.
resentative. Our London representa-.
tive did not seem to take into con.
sideration our public opinion. liz
looked at everything with London eyes
Accusations Against
Ministry Unfounded
"The accusations against the min.
!stry are unfounded. l only wish tt
point out that Prince Lichnowsky hac
not been left in the dark in regard tc
the most important matters as far as
his mission was concerned. But Lich
nowsky seemed to have the inclination
to depend more upon his own observa
tions and opinions than on the report.
OF the central Office.
81 informed him fcverything tha
would have been OF interest to him a:
ambassador, even more than it had beer
the custom. l had no reason nor au
eiiOA lCy " give INN CuC tOuICGS VI Oul
information. Special consideration.
had to be taken, especially not to com
promise our sources. The memoran
dunn of the prince perfectly justifie:
the precautions in that direction.
at is not true that the Foreign Office
did not believe the reports that Eng
land would protect France under al
circumstances.
mo plan of active policy towart
Serbia had been formed in Konopsch
Con the occasion of the Kaiser's visi
to the Austrian Crown Prince). Arch
duke Francis Ferdinand was not at al
an advocate of a war policy, as he wa
said to be. During the London confer
ence he advised moderation and avoid
ance of the war.
"Prince Lichnowsky's optimism wa
very little justified. as he may hav,
learned meanwhile, thanks to the reve
lations at the Sukhomlinoff trial. TIL,
suspicious of the imperial Chancellor
and of the Under Secretary Of Stat,
were justified. How does this agre,
with the statement that we had no
thought of the possibility of war be
cause Count Pourtales had reported
Russia would not bulge under any cir
cumstances.' To my recollection, Coun
Pourtales had never made such re