New-York tribune., 1919-11-24
Former AmbassadorTestifies
That Ex-kaiser and Cen
eral Ludendorff Ignored
Him on His Return
Confident of Success
Psychology of the German
Leaders Illuminated at
Responsibility Hearing
Stat Correspondencs

Staf Correspondence
BERLIN, Oct. 25.-The Psychology Of
the Teuton war lord, his cold contempt
Tor the processes of diplomacy and for
peace itself, is illuminated by that part
of the testimony of Count Won Bern
storff, former Ambassador to the United
States. before the committee inquiring
here into the question of war responsi-
bility, in which the count told Of his
reception at General Headquarters on
his return from America after that
country had declared war on Germany
The passage followed what was per-
haps the most dramatic incident of the
entire hearing-the reading by the So
peror's note to Secretary OF State Zim-
mermann expressing his cold disdain
for President Wilson's peace efforts.
and Count Bernstorf's subsequent out
burst: Then am told of this to-day
Ior the first time."
Answering the questions of commit
tee members, the former ambassador
related how, on his arrival in Germany
after the collapse Of his endeavors to
avoid rupture with the United States,
period of six weeks and then delib-
erately insulted by General Ludendorff
Testimony in Trial
Here is translation OF the record
taken by official stenographers and
issued for the German press:
Chairman Warmuth-W When did you
see the Kaiser after your return?
Bernstorf or seven weeks after
my return home. (Laughter)
armuth-Did that appear unusual
TO you, in view Of the Importance of
your mission?
Bernstorf-It seemed so to me at
that time.
Warmuth-Do you think that you
know the reasons for it in the person
Of the Emperor?
Bernstorf- Reasons were mentioned
70 me at the time which l did not
regard as forcible. 1t was perhaps
only question OF differing political
views.
Warmuth-Are the reasons of such a
character that they need be kept
secret by you?
Bernstorff If I am asked l must
answer. When we left New York, the
Swedish Minister had trunk with
Swedish dispatches brought on board
our ship, of which we knew nothing
whatever. Afterward we were held up
IN Halifax twelve days and carefully
searched. The English contiscated the
t..Drk .olen ~ IoONO0 and
there opened. The English news
papers asserted at the TIM that it was
trunk of mine. 1t was supposed
that the dispatches of the embassy
We're in the trunk, including thinner
mann'S Mexican telegram, and that
1t thus became known At any rate.
the Emperor believed that l did not
take sufficient care of a trunk con-
tanning such dispatches.
Accused in Gerard Selection
armuth-And the other reason?
Bernstorif if-Once in Constantinople
while We We're on trip on the Bos-
porus, the Kaiser charged me with
being to blame for permitting a man
like Gerard to become American Am
bassador to Berlin. | answered that
the nomination of Gerard became
known to me only after he had been
selected, and that did not want to
cause ill-fcehng in America by recon-
mending that Gerard be rejected Be
sides that, | must also say that we
were not yet at war at that time and
fer that reason Gerard's personality
did not appear dangerous.
Professor Schuecking Have you
ground for believing that your whole
'.ork as mediator in America was dis
approved by those circles in Germany
which were working for unrestricted
submarine warfare? Did you get this
i'm preston particularly from personal
conversations in militar. quarters,
with General Ludendortf and others at
headquarters?
Bernstorff-I had on May q CONVEX
sation with General Ludendorff. from
which | got the impression that my
work was undesirable and antipathetic
to him.
Schuecking-I should like further de
tails about that conversation
LudendorT Confident of Victory
BernstoriT General Ludcndortf re-
ceived me with the words: "You
wanted to make peace in America. You
thought perhaps that we had reached
our end? To this / replied "No.
did not think that we had reached tn.
end; but | wanted to make peace be
fore we did reach the end To tina.
the general answered: yes, but we
don't want to. We shall now end the
matter within three months with the
u boat warfare Then asked whether
he was sure that he could end the war
in three months. He replied that he
had only few hours previously re-
ceived quite definite news that Eng
land could under no circumstances
stand the war longer than three months
owing to lack of food. General Lu-