The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-13
AND TEUTON
Ambassador Morgenthau's Story of Great War Plots
By HENRY MORGENTHAU.

mans don't understand conditions in
my country. You don't think that the
United States viii fight. You don't
understand President Wilson; you think
that he is an idealist and a peace man
and that. under no circumstances, Will
he take up arms. You are making the
greatest and most costly mistake that
any nation could make, The president
has two sides to his nature. Do not
forget that he has ScotCh-Irish blood
in him. Up to the present you have
seen only the Scotch side of him. That
makes him very cautious. makes him
weigh every move, makes him patient
and long suffering, But he has also
all the fire and combativeness of the
Irish, Let him once set his jaws and
It takes a crowbar to open them again,
II he once decides to fight. he will
fight with all his soul and to the bit
ter end. You can &c Just so far with
your provOcatiOns, but no farther. You
are also greatly deceived because GER
tain important members of congress,
perhaps even a member of the cabinet,
have been for peace. But there is
one man who is going to settle this
matter-that is the president. He will
settle it as he thinks right and just,
irrespective of what other people may
say or do
Won Jagow said that had given
him a new impression of the presi-
dent. But he still had one more rea-
, son to believe that the United States
would not go to war,
How about the German-Americans?'
he asked.
II can tell you all about them"
answered, because l am one of them
myself. | was born in Germany and
spent the first nine years of my life
here. l have always loved many things
German, such as its music and its lit
erature. But my parents left this
country because they were dissatis-
fled and unhappy here. The United
states gave US a friendly reception and
a nome and made us prosperous and
happy. There are many millions just
ike us; there is no business oppor-
tunity and no social position that is
not open to us. l do not believe that
there is a more contented people in
the world than the so-called German
Americans. We have one loyalty and
M love, and that is for the United
States, Take my children-they are
German Americans of the second gem
Grafton. Their sympathies all through
this war have been with England and
her allies. My son is here with me;
he tells me that, 10 the United States
goes to war, he viii enlist immediate
ly. DO you suppose, in case we should
go to war with Germany, that they
would side with you? The idea is sim
ply prepo5terous, And the overwhelm-
ing mass of German-Ameficans feel
precisely the same way"
But | am told" said Won Jagow,
that there will be an insurrection OF
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES if your country
makes war on u.s."
Dismiss any such idea from your
mind replied. 1.-The first one who
attempts it will be punished so prompt
~ and SO drastically that such a move
ment VIII not go far. And | think that
the loyal German Americans themselves
VIII be the first to administer such
punishment"
we wish to avoid a Eupture with
the United States" said Won JagoW.
But we must have time to change
public sentiment here. There are two
parties here, holding diametrically op-
posed views on submarine warfare. One
believes in pushing it to the limit. ire
spectlVe of consequences to the United
states or any other power. The pres
ent cabinet takes the contrary view.
we wish to meet the contentious OF
Iactlon Is pushing us hard. They will
torce us oHt of office if we declare thu
Lusitania sinking illegal or improper
| think that President Wilson Should
understand this. We are working witt
s nr%; But anpN we must fSst e. e. G%aaH'tiously;
ne wishes to avoid a break, would pre-.
Ter to have us in power. Why should
he a k a stand that will drive us ont
or office and put in here people who
VIII make war inevitable between Ger,
many and the United stateso"
you wish Washington to under.
stand asked, that your tenure o.
o1fice depends on your not making this
declaration" ~
I'VE certainly do" replied Won ia.
gov. II wish that you would telegram
Washington to that effect. Tell tht
president that, If we are displaced now
we snail be succeeded by people who
He expressed himself as amazed al
my description of President Wilson ant
MS Willingness to fight. I'VE regard
him. said Won Jagow, "as absolutely
a man of peace. Nor do we beIiev'
that the American people will fight
They are f., from the scene of action
and what, after all. have they to fight
or Your material interests are no