The Washington herald., 1920-01-26
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

4
applied to him by American public
opinion, to take action against Great
Britain. He certainly does not be-
lieve he would have any sort of sue
cess, as he does not possess any
means of pressure. Nobody would be-
lieve him should he threaten Britain
with war.
THE case is different in regard to
the Presidents known wish to bring
about peace. Herein he has almost
the whole of American public opinion
behind him. He also believes that
after the PROBABLE failure of our enc
mics in the present offensive, they
Will be willing to enter upon peace
negotiations.
Wilson will certainly make an effort
to bring about peace for election
reasons. Therefore. I humbly beg
your excellency for another short tel
eEraphic instruction as to how
should interpret the phrases; more
concrete form OF intentions of media
ton aud positive proposal of media
| uon.'
Gerard Not Told Of Intentions.
Gerard was probably not informed
exactly of the Presidents intentions.
when your excelIency spoke with him
about mediation. in the beginning of
May. Anyway. he was mistaken in
regard to your exceIlency's attitude
toward an American peace PROPOSE
ton. On the strength of telegram
at the time from Gerard. Wilson be-
lieved the imperial government would
accept his mediation. In accordance
with instructions, l thereupon weak
ened this impression with House.
''As far as ] am aware, Wilson does
not at all wish to interfere with ter
ritorial questions. He interests him
self only in disarmament and the free
dom of the seas. He thinks of a con-
ference at The Hague, in which the
! United States and other neutrals
should take part only insofar as these
two questions may be Considered.
"Disa rInament may be certainly un-
| desirable to us but, on the other hand.
| freedom of the seas would undoubt-
edly bring us together with the
United States Should there come about
peace negotiations between the bel
IIiSerents. | consider it out of the ques-
ton that the United States would
make war against US, even IL the
negotiations were to fail. The peace
feeling is too strong here to be out
weighed by anything short of such
hysterical excitement as was caused
| by the sinking of the Lusitania.
DeutschIand's Political Trip.
General admiration for the trip
of the submarine Deutschland shows
in which direction the wind blows.
! 81 have made the above mentioned
request because / considered it i'm
possible to prevent Wilson from un-
dertaking a step in the interests
of peace. However. I am in doubt
whether by positive proposal for
mediation" your Excellency may
not have meant only such as Roose-
welt made after the Russo-Japanese
war. On that occasion negotiations
took place under direct American
| influence.
''As / have said, Wilson does not
at all intend this. He wishes only
| to play the pert of peace proposer.
| lie would like to earn the merit of
having brought the belligerents to
negotiate with one another. Such
success would probably assure his
reelection. with public opinion as it
is.
"I am, therefore. convinced that
within few weeks the President
| will make a peace suggestion, IL the
| fruitlesSness of the enemy's offensive
shall have been shown by that time.
Wilson would then tell the British
that for inner political reasons he
would be compelled to protest strong
ly against the blockade unless they
came to peace negotiations.
THE question now arises with me
as to whether I must endeavor to
hinder such suggestion. I could nat
urally greatly calm House but Will
son. might Immediately gain the sus-
picion that we were already calcuiat-
| ing on his successor and wished to
procure the honor Of peace suggestion
for Hughes.
Considered War Certain.
'AE far as 1 can fudge from here
there are only three possibilities
hrst, Wilson peace action founded on
the resistance of our enemies: then,
in case we should resume submarine
warfare the situation would still be
favorable for us: secondly, a pro-
posal for peace action founded on our
opposition and the resumption by us
Of submarine warfare: thirdly, peace
action accepted by both belligerent
parties.
I'm the first case. consider war
with the United States probable, in
the second case certain. This ex-
plains my request for definite instruc-
peace action. or make . positive sug-
e