Evening star., 1920-05-27
SAID Mr.. WILSON
WAS LESSER EVIL
Bernstorff Comment on U. S.
Elections in 1916
Revealed.

BERLIN. May o6 (by the Associa &c
Press).-Official documents were pub
lished today covering letters writer
by Count Won Bernstorff. the German
ambassador to the United States. writ
ten from Washington to the Berlin
foreign Office between March, 1916
and January. 1917.
A large portion Of the correspond
ence deals with President Wilson's
pre-war attitude toward Germany
and Great Britain and his reelection
TO the presidency. Regarding Col.
Theodore Roosevelt. Count Won Bern
storff declares in a letter written in
March. that Influential American
circles will not countenance wild
Theodore" and then proceeds:
so much is certain-Wilson does
pean war. This has been stated by
Col House, both in London and
Paris"
Bernstorff refers 10 the "unprece-
dented ovation" given him at the
opening of the Austro German ba-
zaar in Madison Square Garden.
Irixh-Amerfcans "Go Over"
In a letter written in May. Bern
storff said:
The best to he said about the Amer
team government is that it is more
neutral than influential circles here.
He refers to the lrish-Americans as
having gone over, to man.
In June BernStorf wrote: tol.
House continuously asks me 10 I'M
press upon YOU that we should not
show a great desire for peace. as our
enemies would take this up as de-
Ginning attitude.
In November in an extensive report
on President Wilson's reelection,
Bernstorff said
"I regard the issue favorable TO US,
or pessimistically speaking. l regard
Wilson as the lesser evil. II Hushes
had been elected we would nave Stooo
q had chance with people like Root'
BACON and Wickersham in the caol-
net
Rern,tOrr.s References to House.
RERLIN. May o6 (by the Associated
Press) Col Z. NJ. House was recon-
mended to the German 1oreiGn oInce
nv Count Won Bernstorn. then Ger
man ambassador in Washington. " h.n
the former made his second Trip 70
Europe early in 1915 as president
Wilson's personal representative. ac-
cording to letters from the amoassa
dor to Gottlieb Won JagoW. al .hal
time foreign secretary Ihese leltsan .,n
have been published here with other
documents presented before the par
liamentary investigating committee
which recently inquired into Presl-
dent Wilson's peace proposals during
the war.
Count Bernstorff informed his su-
periors that the Americans were
chiefly interested lin the restoration
of peace and the abolition of mill
tarism and navalism. He added thaI
Germany would be "able to compel
England to recognize the freedom OF
the seas only if supported by the
United States and if Germany con-
sented to end militarism.'
Treat Him In DiIatOry Manner.
.If i receive no reply on this point
from your excellency." he concluded.
Il will continue. to treat Col. House
in a diiatory manner. Up to now ne
has been very useful to me-"
A letter from DIR. Solf, minister OF
colonies, to DIR. Won Jagow reported
the formers conversation with Col.
House at the American embassy in
Berlin late in January. 1915 In it
Col. House was credited with state
ments relative to the political stu
alton in England.
President Wilson's emissary was
quoted as describing Niscount Grey. then
British secretary of state for foreign
affairs, as the most tractable Eng
lish statesman.
Col. House was alleged to have told
DIR. Solf there was strong anti
American feeling in England at that
aware of the extent to which un-
friendly notes were being exchanged
between Washington and London.
He was quoted as expressing regret
that mo arbter was available. since
England had intimated her lack of faith
in Americas inpartiality-"
Quotes Brand WhitlOck.
A letter from Baron Won der Lane
ken German governor of Brussels,
to Count Montgelas. then in charge
of the American division of the for
eign Office, briefly reported conver-
sation the former had with Brand
Whitlock, American miniSter to Bel
eium. in January. 1916. IN Brussels.
after Mr.. Whitlock's return from the
United States. The American minis
ter was reported to have said Presi-
dent Wilson had assured him in
confidential talk he was mo sworn
foe of Germany" and that, "on the
contrary. the destruction or political
weakening of Germany would not be
to the interest of the United States,
whose chief political aim was free
dom"
Mr. Whitlock was quoted as having
told a baron that he was offered
5000 in the United States to retire
from the Brussels post and devote
himself to a lecture tour in behalf
of German rule in Belgium"