Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-23
BERNST0RFF PUTS
BLAME ON BERLIN
Testifies That German Acts
Made His Negotiations in
U. S. IlIusory.
KILLED THEIR OWN HOPES

Was resumed tOudy by tne COHliiil Tee
investigating the responsibility of
German officials for the war.
Former Chancellor Won Bethmann
Hollweg. DR.. Karl Helfferich and AL
fred zimmerman again were pres
ent.
Replying to one of the deputies.
Count Won Bernstorff declared that
troversy 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 negotia-
lions in America illusory.'
In answer to a question asked by
Prof. Schaefer. the former ambassador
said:
American opinion was primarily
of Belgium. 1 have no doubt that in
any peace mediation the complete
restoration of Belgium would have
been demanded in any circum-
stances.
Replying to the chairman. he said:
IF we had declared that We would
not annex Belgium, President Wilson
would have regarded that as a suf-
ficient basis for beginning his peace
negotiations"
Won Papen and Boyd.
Capt. Won Papen, the former German
military attache at Washington; Capt.
Karl Boy-Ed, former naval attache.
and Franz Won Rintelen, an alleged
secret agent of the German govern
ment, were named in todays testi-
mony. Count Won Bernstorff admitted
tthat Won Papen and Boy-Ed had been
recalled at the request of the United
States for sabotage and efforts to
cause incendiarism. Won BernstorH
had to send cable messages three
times before receiving Secretary Won
Jagows denial that Won Rintelen was
/ a German agent. But the United
States had deported him on informa-
ton that he had supplied Boy-Ed with
| 100000 for sabotage.
The former anna basSador testified
| that he had conferred with Secretary
Lansing, whom he quoted as saying
he did not suspect Won Rintelen of
completely with Won Papen and Boy-Ed.
| Questions by members of the COM
mittee brought positive declarations
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,
absolutely 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 Wilson as saying he
was unable to do so because of the
great growth of trade and the Ameri-
can demand for world trade. But he
later threw a bomb at the U-boat ad-
herents by telling them that Presi-
dent Wilson had arranged with Eng
land to have certain articles taken
off the black list. and that the block
ade would thus be partially relieved.
Snniled parlV in .JAnn-
airy, 1914 when the unrestricted u
boat warfare was announced.
n Bitterness in Testimony.
Won Bernstorff quoted Col House
as saying that the U-boat warfare
was welcomed 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 time he attempted
rapprochement that another vessel
was not sunk and matters made
worse. He assured the commission
that the German announcement of
T-boat warfare had reached him in
January. 1917, and doubted that
President Wilson knew of it until
the official announcement. in proof of
which he cited Ambassador Gerard's
DECLARATION DcIOIC TIC CHdAIOCl VI
commerce that the relations between
Germany and the United States were
running no risk so long as such men
as Zimmerman and Won Helfferich
held office.
Won Bernstorff said that since re-
turning to Germany and learning the
inner details of the proceedings when
peace was offered he was convinced
that Germany had no intention of
accepting President Wilson's offer.
He startled his hearers by declaring
the United States Federal Reserve
Bank had a plan mapped out to deny
entente nations credits. but this plan
again was spoiled by the work of
submarines.
The chairman Of the commission
asked whether 1t was impossible to
convince Mr.. Wilson that U-boat
warfare was necessary as a last re-
mer ambassador replied he had con-
ferred with Mr.. Wilson on the sub
ject and the President had repeatedly
said that if Won Bernstorff met him
on the U-boat proposition he (the
| President) would see about the hun
! ger blockade.
Reasons for Antipathy.
| The former ambassador said the for
eign office did not want Mr.. Wilson to
| intervene, but that he had consistent
~ advised that the Presidents good
| offices De accepted. Won 66rnStOTH
was asked rather sharply whether
Capt Won Papen's check book had not
| shown expenditures for sabotage. ald
he replied with some acerbity that the
British had confiscated the check book
at Falmouth and that Won Papen had
better be subpoenaed for further de-
tails Herr Schuecking asked what
had raised American antipathy to
Germany besides Belgium and the u
boats and Won Bernstorff replied
! rlntQ In America hich th q
United States government firmly es-
tablished."
Referring to the case of Wolf Won
JgeI. arrested in April. 1915, for al
legged completely in plot to destroy
the Welland canal. Won Bernstorff
said the legal fight over Won Igers
extra territoriality had been post
poned by the United States govern
ment because peace seemed near. He
said that military and naval attaches
were responsible for orders for money
devoted to military and naval pur-
poses, but had double and doubtful
| functional. He asserted he had no