The sun., 1919-10-23
BERNSTORFF TELLS
OF PEACE MOVES
Says American Opinion Was
Turned Against Germany
Because of Belgium.
Bv the Associated press.


BERLIN, Oct. 2a.--The examination Of
Count Won Bernstorff, former German
Ambassador at Washington. was re-
sumed to-day by the committee investi-
eating the responsibility of German Of
icials for the war. Former Chancellor
Won Bethmann-Holiweg. Dr. Karl Helf-
ferich and Alfred Zimmerman were
again present Replying to one Of the
Deputies. Count Won Bernstorff declared
that there was one German-American
controversy after another throughout
1915. and even until May 4, 1916.
Every time we thought we had at
tanned something" he said, there was
another sinking or some other incident
tending to aggravate the position. which
rendered all negotiations in America
illusory."
In answer to a question asked by
Prof. Schaefer. the former Ambassador
said: American opinion was primarily
turned against Germany on account of
Belgium. 1 have no doubt that In any
peace mediation the complete restora-
ton of Belgium would have been de-
manded In any circumstances"
Replying to the chairman he said !:
'If we had declared that we would not
annex Belgium President Wilson would
have regarded that as a sufficient basis
for beginning his peace negotiations"
Peace Overtures Started.
Count Bernstorff, referring to the
peace overtures contained in the memoir
andum written by Emperor William Oc-
tober 9, 1916, explained that this men,
orandum had been telegraphed to him
for transmission TO Col. House because
it had not been finished in time to be
handed to Ambassador Gerard before
sailing. (The Ambassador returned to
America for short vacation in tho
autumn of 1850 Count Bernstorff said
that the document referred TO a conver-
sation between the Emperor and Am
| bassador Gerard. held at general head
quarters at Charleville. France. In which
| the possibility of peace overtures by the
United States was discussed, and added
that the memorandum had made an i'm
preston In Washington in that 1t DEM
cnstrated that Germany was ready
promptly to accept the mediation Of the
President
At the time, continued Count Bern
| storff, the Presidential campaign in the
United States precluded President Will
son from attempting any definite action.
Count Bernstorff uttered an emphatic
| yes when n member of the commission
asked him whether he understood his in
| structions in the sense that he was to
influence or encourage President Wilson
and Col. House to undertake a peace
move in favor of Germany. He also
answered affirmatively question
whether President Wilson was ready to
accede to these wishes and institute a
general action for peace even without
possessing Germany's concrete conditions
for peace.
Won Papen and Boy-Ed.
Capt Won Papen, the former German
military attache at Washington; Capt
Kari Boy-Ed former naval attache, and
Franz Won Rintelen. an alleged secret
agent Of the German Government, were
named In to-day's testimony. Count
Won Bernstorff admitted that Won Papen
and Boy-Ed had been recalled at the
request of the United States for
sabotage and efforts to cause incendiar-
ism. Won Bernstorff had to send cable
messages three times before receiving
Secretary Won Jagow's denial that Won
Rintelen was a German agent But the
United States had deported him on in
formation that he had supplied Boy Ed
with 3500.000 for sabotage.
Questions by members of the COM
mittee brought positive declar atoms
from Won Bernstorff to the effect that
the German peace offer, in reply to
President Wilson's offer to negotiate
peace. whereby Germany refused to re-
establish and reimburse Belgium, alb
solutely killed all hope of peace '.
Won Bernstorff asserted that he asked
President Wilson. Secretary Lansing and
Col House to establish an embargo on
certain goods which were being seNt to
the Entente. He quoted President Will
son as saying he was unable to do so
because of the great growth OF trade
and the American demand for world
trade. But he later threw a bomb at
the U-boat adherents by telling them
that President Wilson had arranged with
England to have certain articles taken
of the blacklist, and that the blockade
would thus be partially relieved. The
plan was spoiled early in January, 1917,
when the unrestricted U-boat warfare
was announced
Won Bernstorff quoted Col. House as
saying that the U-boat warfare was well
coined at first by the Entente Powers,
as they had tried every other means to
get the United States into the war. The
former Ambassador testified with some
bitterness that there never was a time
he attempted rapprochment that an
other vessel was not sunk and matters
made warse.
arr OOO for death n. sVO ru..h