Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-10-22
GERMAN COMMITTEE TO FIX
Wgn;s RESPONSIBILITY
HEARS BERhSTDRff'S STORY

I'ze.='-T-se committee which Is -
Investigate tae responsibility Of ys-i-
oEs ofzl.l-zs for bringing On Ea- Eels3
lis .Ira, SESSION today. with Count
johann I-on Barnzto-f. former Ger
man ambassador 20 the United
STATES. as the principal witness
Non Berrs.or@ related for the
t,e1slt e ti.e committee details of 81
TIE god oaces u President Wi.s51
tD end lhe wsr. giving tie dates.
One da,e mentioned was August, isi.,
and anpthe- September C tire same
year. - which Won Be-nslorr said
;l7e entente apparently did not reply.
Tae former ambassador said Pres.-
den, WILSON held tie opinion that ite
United States was the only pow .!
possessing EUHlcien. Influence &c
hriag abcu. 4 termination IF TIE var.
He referred 70 an important menu
raId1n. written personally by En-
pe-or William October ., 1915, whicn
al first was intended TO hand Il
James ". Gerard. the American Ann
bassador IN Berlin, tut which finally
was telegraphed 20 Won BernstorT
for transmission to Col z II. Housa.
President Wilson's confidential al
visor.
In this memorandum, Won Bernx-
tor. said, the government asked
President Wilson to expedite his
peace proposal in view Of the fac:
that the methods of warfare were be-
coming increasingly severe IN form.
.-on Ber.storF expressed the belief
that the German government did not
desire President wilson TO interfere
IL territorial problems. but wished
hirl TO favor the idea Of conference
q al that states u the world for the
discussion the problems of league
ct Nations. the freedom of the seas
international courts Of arb!tra alton
and the Ike.
Count Ven pernstorf told the com
mission thai the German cfer Of
Dec =. 1915, seriously interfered
with President wilson's peace plans.
which then were riFenirg and that
the German proposal rot only handi-
capped President Wilson in public
opinion a. home. but prompted the
entente powers TO construe Berlin s
IGAtSC de- d C.SA VI WCd hiCSS os4A
duced them 10 turn & deaf ear 10
President Wilson.
In summing up his morning testi-
monies, Count Ven Bernstorf made
the positive declaration in response
to the commissions pointed inquiries,
that President Wilson was ready 10
undertake a definite peace action.
even in the face Of the absence Of
concrete propositions from Berlin:
that he purposed negotiations for
temporary peace which would not
touch upon territorial issues. leaving
the adjustment OF all major problems
10 TIE ultimate disposition of the
main peace conference.
Count He-nstora entered into immed:.
A'e deia is on alleged conversation
with CoL House with whom he con-
ye-sei at Col Houses New York res.
:dence Washington was too public fol
nfdent.al negotiations chiefly. Voc
Bern TO r. said. because Of the EewEpa.
per men. WHO. despite secretiveness
scat1erei rews inimical TO the proSres.
{. negoti tiors-
The former ambassador has been or
tie sand an hour when the commiEs.ou
adjourned the hs airing until Wednesday
Won Bernstorn was frequently inter.
rup;ed By members Of the commission
q three experts, who asked for eluci-
oation or confirmation of the onicial
documents which were introduced BY
Won BeYnstorn.
When Colonel House returned in isi!
from a second visit to Europe said
Won Bernstorn. he told me the chief
obstacle TO peace then was Paris: tina.
London showed q certain inclination to
entertain the proposal. and Berlin also
q sente5."
according 10 the witness. that Pres.
cen. Wilson no longer was able 70 force
Great Britain to observe international
law, but as American commerce was "a
intimately associated with that Of Great
Britain the President could not pos.
sibly disturb the relations without ere.
at.nx . storm Of protest.
Colonel House then intimated. the
witness continued. that President vii.
eon. on the other hand. was IN . 20.
sition to negotiate peace without victo-
~ and proposed to do 20 as soon a IN.
situation was favorable. In view Of tn,
fact that such action would b inter
preted n pro-German. the Prssiden,
thought best to defer 1t until the senti.
rtent against Germany had somewhA.
subsided.
TEE witaess added that the Presiden,
hoped TO resume his effort late In the
summer.