Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-07-10
Says Germans Should Know
What Brought America
Into War-Declares Coun-
trymen Have Made Grave
Mistakes About Us.

New York, July 1o.-Dr. Dernburs
looked upon in Germany as q kind OF
authority on American affairs from
his extensive visits here. writes an
article for the Berliner Tageblatt OF
May 26 in praise Of the little book
published by Professor Bonn Of the
Munich Commercial high school and
University Of California. Professo.
Bonn's book, called WAS Will Will
son?" VIVA Does Wilson want?")
was summarized in a cable dispatch
published here July /. Dr.. Dernburg
takes 1t for a text to tell his country
men, that they know little about the
real:,causes that brought America into
the war, and warns them that America
is not defeated even II German arm.
are victorious on the continent and
England reduced to submission by
the submarine-war. It is highly nee
essary, then, he says, for the German
people to find u what brought
America into the war and what she
will demand for peace. He makes q
strong argument for a peace by un-
derstanding and the now abandoned
reichstag resolution Of July 10, 1917.
His article follows:
America is the hope Of our
enemies. She is the only nation that
has not yet suffered severely from the
war, and after the collapse of Russia,
the strongest world power in men and
means. That we are at war with this
We had neither common borders nor
colliding interests. The great mass OF
the German people, from their ex-
perience and knowledge, do not see q
clear u Of war between Germany
and America, which owes its upbuild-
Ing to many good mel of German
blood.
$50 with US one takes the symp-
toms for the causes, outstanding
events like the sinking Of the Lusi.
tania and the Sussex, blunders like
the Mexican note, and for the rest
trusts to such expressions as de-
bition and trade jealousy. in order tc
explain the event as clearly as pos.
sible. In all these things there il
doubtless something. but they do not
reach the heart of the matter, so it Is
worthy of gratitude that the director
Of the Munich high school Of COM
merce. Professor Bonn, who before
the war went to the University OF
California a exchange professor and
against his will was held in America
for two years. should elucidate in q
small book American tendencies a.
they are embodied in the person OF
President Wilson and expressed by
him.
For. not because the constitution
Of the United States endows the prest-
dent with a special power, but be.
cause this power can only be exercised
by him so long Al he finds himself ir
close sympathy with public opinion
and h~armonizes the different current,
in himself, is the president of the
! United States the real representative
OF the common policy Of his land. II
all the other lands in the war the
a political will against the enemy are
expressed by means of a coalition
government. That 10 not possible In
America, foEthere 10 no ministry
any more than In Germany. The
American secretaries are once hold.
ers and helpers Of the president; from
him they take the course he has
chosen. And they are not member.
of the law-making bodies, they arr
mot responsible TO them. they do not
appear before them to represent the
laws, for they, at least according "a
ltheory, do not propose the laws. Such
lare Won't to como from the leaders OF
the parties In congress-. So the. presi-
dent, as the common minister, Ii
something like the chancellor with
us, and the n place where the dif.
ferent streams OF opinion How to.
gether and ind their harmony, and
It II his problem to compare thssl
lopinions - 10 their worth and
Through the strength Of his person.
ality and through the press ct hi
1 dfenosal. His Effectiveness depNndl