New-York tribune., 1920-05-27
w ilso1l W ants
To Avoid War;
Bernstorff Said
& Cerm any Would Have
Stood Bad Chance Will,
People If Hughes Had
Been Elected, He States
Colonel House Useful
Presidents Envo Said
10 Have Opposed Berlin s
Showing Desire for Peace

BERLIN, May 70 tBy The Associated
Press) Official documents were nub-
lished to-day covering letters written
by Count Won Bernstortf, the German
Ambassador to the United States, from
Washington to the Berlin Foreign
Office between March, 1916, and Janu-
ary, 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 Colonel Theo-
lore Roosevelt, Count 1in Bernstorn
declares. in q letter written in March,
that influential American circles will
not countenance wild Theodore" and
hen proceeds
80 much is certain Wilson does
not want to be drawn into the Euro
can war. This has been stated by
-olonel House, both in London and
Paris.
Bernstorf refers to the "unprece-
ented ovation" given him at the OPEN
ng OF the Austro- German bazaar in
Madison Square Garden.
In a letter written in May, Bern
stortf said:
I. S. Government More Neutral
The best to be said about the Amer
neutral than influential circles here"
In June Bernstorf wrote;
Colonel House continuously asks
me to impress upon you that we should
not show a great desire for peace. as
or enemies would take this up as a
DECLINING attitude"
In November in an extensive report
on President Wilson's reelection, Bern
stor.f said:
a regard the issue favorable to us,
or pessimistically speaking, | regard
Wilson as the lesser evil. If Huefes
had been elected We would have stood
a bad chance with people like Root,
Bacon and Wickersham in the Cabinet"
Urged Defense of Ireland
The last communication sent by
Bernstolf was cablegram dated Janu-
airy /, 1917, in which he advised the
foreign Office to issue an official state
ment IN acknowledgment OF Ereland's
right to self-determInation
AS Il Is understood here 10 be i'm
pending chat the British Imperial Con-
terence will grant ireland self govern
ment,' said he cablegram, cur state
mert should be issued immediately so
that the British concession may appear
as consequence OF our declaration.0 -
Colonel House was recommended 70
me German Foreign Office By Count
Fon Bernstorf when the former made
ms second trip TO Europe. early in
1916, as President Wilson'S personal
representative, according to letters
from the ambassador to G0ttlieb Won
JagoW, a shat time Foreign Secretary.
lewed from the local standpoint"
Count Won Bernstorf wrote November
p, 1915, on the eve Of the colonel's
departure, "the mission of Colonel
,ially IS the United States is so poorly
represented in Berlin. Colonel House
IS wholly neutral, very discreet ana
deserving. Condolences could contrib
ute much to the berterment Of mutual
relations"
[. S Support Needed
Count Won Bernstorff informed his
superior in the same letter that Amer
leans We're at that time chiefly interest |
ed IN the restoration Of peace and the
abolition Of milItarism ana navalism''
He added thaC Germany would be able
70 compel England to recognize the
freedom OF the seas only il supported
by the United States and If Germany
consented to end miltalism.'
III receive no reply on this point
from your EXcelency, he concluded.
Il VIII continue to treat Colonel House
IL 93.alory manner. Up to now he
mas been Wy useful o me
letter from Dr. Soif, Minister Of
Colonies, to Dr. vou Jagow reported
the formers conversation with Colonel
6ou5e at the American Embassy in
Rerun, ate in january, 1916 In it