The New York herald., 1920-01-22
CIPHERS
OF BERNSTORFF
MADE PUBLIC
Kaiser's Ambassador Reported
Money Making "Sole Life In
terest" in America.
TOLD OF WILSON PLAN
Reported Wilson Wanted
Peace, but Warned Against
Submarine War.
THAT BROUGHT AMERICA IN
Called President and Colonel House
"Both Clever at Keeping
Secrets"
THAT BROUGHT AMERICA IN

London, Thursday-The kilograms of
Count Won Bernstorff. the former German
Ambassador at Washington, to his govern
ment from April. 1916, to February. 1917.
are published in Berlin, according to the
Daily Mails correspondent, who sends a
summary. 1t begins with Won Bernstorff $
description of the situation caused in
America by the torpedoing of the Sussex,
House regarded the situation as hopeless
and adding
"A repetition Of such a blunder would
force America into the war against US.
which President Wilson would greatly re-
Sret. because In few months he would
like to bring about peace"
Won Bernstorff asks for "instructions on
which can calm the United States Gov
ernment, which now doubts our bona
fides."
Inclined to Favor British.
On June 7. 1916, Won Jagow, then Foreign
Minister, telegraphed to the Ambassador
regarding American peace efforts saving:
We are sceptical of the mediation OF
statesman whose whole conception SO
inclines to the British standpoint and who
is so naive as Wilson,"
Won Bernstorff was therefore instructed
to watch President Wilson's intention re-
garding mediation, adding that il II
coincided with the British inclination to
enter thereupon lit will task your ex-
cellency to prevent President Wilson from
approaching us with a positive suggestion
of mediation"
The Ambassador on July 13. concerned as
to how the impending election would af-
feet relations, declares that President Will
sons "only thought is his reelection" !"
and says:-"Another Lusitania would be
necessary to bring America into the war"
He adds:-'Peaceful moneymakins is the
sole life interest of the American. Only
when he believes himself deeply wronged
does he allow himself to be drawn into a
hysterical desire for war"
In September of the same year ruthless
submarine warfare was under discussion.
and Won Bernstorff urged postponement.
The German Emperor at this stage sent
the Ambassador a private confidential
memorandum. This is not published, but
the Chancellor instructed Won Bernstorff
to hand it to the American Ambassador
to Germany, Mr.. Gerard, confidentially
on the latter's arrival, saying that it did
not imply a menace about war. He was
also instructed to draw American atten-
ton to ''the increasingly cruel methods
cluded by saying that ruthless submarin-
ing would not begin at present.
Later the Chancellor urged Won Bern
storff to encourage the President to issue
a spontaneous appeal for peace which he
said would be gladly accepted by Ger
many. adding
"If the President cannot come to this
decision alone. he must combine with the
Pope. the King of Spain and European
neutraIs in common action, which could
not be rejected by the entente, and would
secure President Wilson's reelection and
his historical fame"
Regarding President Wilson's manifesto
Of December 21 Herr zimmerman (then
Foreign Secretary informed Won Bern
storff that although Germany would re-
ply to the Presidents invitation by sug-
costing an immediate conference Of the
belligerents, they would not consent that
1t be held in America. asserting:-
American indscretion and interference
would make the objective OF the negotia-
tions impossible AMI he injurious tc our
interests. We must create basis for
future peace through direct contact with
our opponents. if we are not to run the
danger Of being deprived OF our desired
gain by the pressure cf neutrals."
Subsequently. Won Bernstorff telegraphed
Won Bethmapn Holweg that Colonel House
requested absolutely confidential negotia-
tions. of which only he. President Wilson
and Won Bernstorff would know anything.
Absolute discretion would be secured in
the cir cumstances as both President Will
son and Colonel House are pretty clever
at keeping secrets, contrary TO other
Americans"
Submarines Brought America In.
Nothing came Of this ana after that
Won Bethmann Hollwegs notification OF
the beginning Of ruthless submarine war
fare was received by Won Bernstorff, with
its avowed consciousness that IL might
lead to a rupture and possibly TO war with
the United States, which risk the German
government determined to take. Won
Bernstorffs despairing rer.y that war
eyould in that case be inevitable drew
from Berlin the instruction to adapt
your thoughts to the American men,
tality."
The Ambassadors attempt again to de-
lay summarizing and TO have Germany
state her peace terms TO President Wilson
are recorded in the telegrams. together
with the reply that postponement was
impractcable.
The Daily Mail adds supplementary
despatches to those published. showing
that the peace offer of October, 1917. was
started by the Austrian Premier, Baron
,rta