The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-12-02
AND TEUTON
Ambassador MOrgenthaus Story of Great War Plots

she hoped to reach an understanding
with England, the basis Of which was
to be something In the nature OF a
division Of interests in the East. Ger
many desires above all to obtain Me-
sopotamia as an indispensable part
of her Hamburg Bagdad scheme. In re-
turn for this, she was prepared to give
her Endorsement to England's anneXa-
ton of Egypt. Thus 1t was Germany's
plan at that time that she and Eng
land should divide Turkeys two fair
est dominions. This was one of the pro-
posals which Germany intended to bring
forth in the peace conference which
Wangenheim was now scheming for,
and clearly Turkeys conquest of Egypt
would nave presented complications in
the way Of carrying out this plan. On
the morality Of Germany's attitude to
her ally, Turkey, 1t is hardly necessary
to comment. TIL whole thing was all
of a piece with Germany's policy Of
realism" in foreign relations.
Nearly all German classes. in the lat
ter part of 1914 and the early part OF
1915, were anxiously looking for peace
and they turned to Constantinople as
the most promising spot where peace
negotiations might most favorably be
started. The Germans took 1t for
granted that President Wilson would
be the peacemaker; indeed, they never
for a moment thought of II one else
In this capacity. Tho only point that
remained for consideration was the best
way to approach the president. Such
negotiations would most likely be con-
Quoted through n of h American
ambassadors in Europe. Obviously
Germany had no means of access to
the American ambassadors in the great
enemy capitals, and other Circum-
stances induced the German statesmen
to u to the American ambassador in
Turkey.
At this time q German diplomat APP
peared in Constantinople, who has fig
ured much in recent history-Dr. Rich
for foreign affairs. In the last five
years DR.. Won kuhlmann has seemed
to appear in that particular part of the
world where important confidential
diplomatic negotiations are being con-
Quoted by the German empire. Prince
L~ichnowsky has described his activities
In London in 1918 and 1914, and he
figured even more conspicuously In the
Infamous peace treaty of Brest-L itovsk.
Soon after the war started DR.. Won
kuhlmann came to Constantinople as
conseiller Of the German embassy, sue
ceeding Won Mutius, who had been
called to the colors, For one reason
Kuhlmann had been born in CONSTANT
nople, and had spent his early life
there, his father having been president
Of he Anatolian railway. He there
fore understood the Turks as only one
can who has lived with them for many
years. Personally he proved to be an
interesting addition to the diplomatic
colony. He impressed me as not a par
ticularly aggressive, but n very enter
tanning man; he apparently wished to
become friendly with the American en-
bassy and he possessed a certain at
traction for us all as he had just Come
from the trenches and gave us many
vivid pictures of life at the front. At
that time we were all keenly interested
In modern warfare. and kuhlmann's
details Of trench fighting held us SPELL
bound many an afternoon and evening,
His other favorite topic OF conversation
was welt-politik, and on all foreign
we'll informed. At that time we die
not regard Won Kuhlmann as an i'm
portant man, yet the industry with
which he attended to his business at
tracted everyone's attention even then
Soon, however, l began to have a feel.
ing. that he was exertlng a powerful
Influence In a quiet, velvety kind o.
way. He said little, but I realized thai
he was listening to everything and stor.
ing all kinds OF information away II
his mind; he was apparently Wangen'
helms closest confidant, and the mar
upon whom the ambassador was de,
pending for his contact with the Ger
Of December Won Kuhlmann left fol
Berlin, where he stayed about TIVE
weeks. On his return. in the earl,
part Of January, 1915, there was a no
ticeable change in the atmosphere o
the German embassy. Up to that tim,
t~iations more or. less informally hu
now he took up the matter specifically
I gathered that Kuhlmann had beef
called to Berlin to receive all the lates
details on this subject, and that he hat
come back with the definite instruc
tons that Wangenheim should move a
once In all my talks with the German
ambassador on peace. Kuhlmann wa
always lowering In the background; a
one most important conference he wa
present, though he participated hardl
at all In the conversation, but his role
as usual, was that Of a subordinate an,
quietly eager listener.
Wangenheim now informed me tina
January, 1915, would be an e~xcellen
time to end the war. Italy had nc
yet entered. though there was ever
reason to believe tAat she would d
so by spring, Bulgaria and Rumani
were still holding aloof, though no on
expected that their waiting attitud
| would last forever. France and Eng
: land were preparing for the first
the Spring offensives" and the Ger
mans had no assurance that 1t woul
not succeed; indeed, they much feare
| that the German armies would met
: disaster. The British and French wal
ships were gathering at the Dal
a danelles, and the German general sta.
and practically all military and nav
r experts In Constantinople believed ths
I the allied fleets could force their wa
n through and capture the city. Mo-
: Turks by this time were sick Of II
war, and Germany always had in mir
that Turkey might make a separa.
= peace, Afterward I discovered tn.
4 whenever the military situation locke
ominous to Germany she was alwa,
thinking about peace, but that II Il
n situation improved she would immed
t ately become warlike again; It was
@ case of sick-devil. we'll -devil. Yet. ba,
" as Wangenheim wanted peace
q January, 1915. It was quite appare
e that he was not thinking of a permi
d nent peace. The greatest obstacle
e. peace at that time was the fact tn
l. Germany showed no signs that she r
GREETED her crimes, and there was n
N the slightest evidence of the sackclo
Ia In Wangenheim's attitude now. &c
many had made a bad guess, that W