The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-26
CAN EMPEROR DOES NOT RUN AWAY"
SAYS BERNSTORFF OF FORMER BOSS

then said very quietly. mo, an EN-
peror does not run away"
Subsequently I heard this remark re-
peated in many quarters Yet the sur
prising fact remains that 1 met no Ger
man who showed any of that kind of
contempt and resentment one would
naturally expect among individuals so
completely crushed through his fault.
There seems only feeling akin to pity
for him.
Had the Emperor remained in Ber-
lin," Bernstorff continued there is no
question that within two months Ger
many would have been monarchy
again, with one of the princes the new
Emperor 1t would never have been the
Crown Prince, however.
"Of course there is a monarchial
group in Germany today, but their in
flUence is of small consequence. 1t is
they who are keeping the former En-
peror in seclusion and prohibiting his
defining his attitude. They are keep
ing him mum for selfish reasons. Again
he is being badly advised. Opportunity
after opportunity for him to have done
the big thing, the magnificent thlng,
has been thrown away. What might
not have been the advantageous results
accruing from his having surrendered
himself to the Entente instantly they
announced it was their intention to bring
him to trial? The whole world would
have thrilled had he made such grand
gesture.
1.-THE one popular idol in Germany re-
mains Hindenburg. Although the war
is lost, it is not through any fault OF
his. So the people believe. If he wants
it he can have the presidency of the new
republic. The German people are with
him to a man.
LUDENDORFF UNPOPULAR
"Ludendorff is as unpopular In Ger
many as Hindenburg is popular. AL
though the people consider him great
general, they consider that the war was
lost because of his insistence of interior
ing in politics and making all the oiuh'
ders which caused defeat
Broadly speaking. the German people
TODAY have one wish uppermost in their
minds They want to be admitted 10 the
League of Nations and cannot oeneVe
that the Entente insists on branding
them as pariahs unfit to be included IN
coterie that embraces black and yellow
peoples
..Fcrzberger, the biggest man in the
present government is a firm supporter
of the policy fayoring the League OF
Nations
TTndoubtedly the German people want
m he included in the League of Nations,
Int INV observations lead me to diner
with Bernstorff as to the wish upper
most in their minds. one thing tney
want most--in or out of the league-they
are determined sooner or later TO nave
is revenge on the rest of the Worid. Inc
former ambassador himself knows Wen
how great is this German capacity TOT
revange for on his return to Berlin
from Washington the Kaiser Kept MN
waiting two full months before he would
receive him.
"But there are matters more vital for
Germany to weigh well and determine
wisely than even admission to the
League of Nations" Bernstorf con-
tinued. "Of these this one IS paramount
that the tremendously important thing
now, not only for Germany but for all
the world, is for us all to know and
realize the extent of the utter democrat
ization of the German people. For only
by knowing and realizing its extent can
cure be effected. And if this cure is
not effected the consequences, not only
to Germany but to all the world, may
we'll prove catalysmic.'
BERNSTORFFS FUTURE
It was not until I had returned TO
Berlin and journeyed to many corners
of Germany that I realized how truly
modest was this man who now signs
himself Johann Heinrich Bernstorn
(having stripped himself of the graf
and the "von' in keeping with the new
republican order of the day. He did
rot tell me that he is president OF the
Democratic club. the most powerful
political organization in Germany and
il GLIDING in its membership the BRAIN
lest individuals in the nation. He did not
tell me that on three separate occasions
since last November the foreign nm
|;strv portfolio has been offered to him.
He did not tell me that unquestionably
he will be the next secretary of state Tor
foreign affairs and in that capacity
create the new German diplomatic serv-
ice. having in his hands the naming OF
every ambassador and lesser diplomatic
|servant whom Germany presently VIII
scatter to the four corners of the earth
He told me none of these things; but
all Of them are true.
Copyright. 1919. by King Features
Syndicate, Inc.)