New-York tribune., 1920-01-22
Won BernstOrff
Told Berlin We
Wouldn't Fight
Another Lusitania Needed
to Bring U. S. Into War,
Ambassador Declared i'm
Reports to the Kaiser
Secret Notes Published
"wiIscn's Only Thought Is
His Re-election," Added
Envoy on July l3, 1916

LONDON, Jan. 22,-The telesrams
Of Count Won Dernstorff. the former
German Ambassador at Washington,
70 hi, government Iom April, 1916,
% February. 1917, arc published in
Berlin. according to The Daily Mails"
correspondent, who sends a summary
It begins with Won BernstorfF's de-
sorip.ion Of the situation caused in
America by the torpedoing Of the Sus-
sex. the Ambassador saying that the
White House regarded the situation as
hopeless. and adding:
"A repetition of such blunder
would force America into the war
against US. which President Wilson
would greatly regret. because in few
months he would like to. bring about
peece.
Won BcrnstorfF asks FOR "instructons
on which I can calm the United States
government, which now doubts our
Bona tides.'
Won Jagow Doubtful of Wilson
On June :, 1916, Won Jagow, then
Foreign Minister, telegraphed to the
ambassador regarding American peace
efforts. saying: I'VE are skeptical of
the mediation of statesman whose
whole conception so inclines to the
standpoint and who is SO naive as
as Wilson,
Won Bernstorf was therefore in
structed to watch President Wilson's 5
intention regarding mediation. adding
that If it conceded with the British in
task your excellency to prevent Presi-
h
q positive suggestion of mediation
The ambassador on July 13, con-
cerned as to how the impending cleo
tion would affect relations, declares
that President Wilson's "only thought
is his reelection" and says: "Another
Lusitania would be necessary to bring
America into the war"
He adds: "Peaceful ey-making z
IS the sole life interest of the Amerl-
can. Only when he believes himself
deeply wronged does he allow himself
10 be drawn into an hysterical desire
for war"
kaiser's Message Suppressed.
In September of the same year ruth
less submarine warfare was under dis
cussion and Won Bernstorff urged post
ponement The German Emperor at III 5
stage sent the ambassador private
confidential memorandum. This is not
published. but the Chancellor instruct
Ell Won BernstortY to hand it to the
..merican Ambassador to Germany. Mr.
Gerard, confdentally on the latter s
arrival. saying that it did not imply
4 menace about war. He was also in
structed to draw American attention to
the increasingly cruel methods Of our
enemies The Chancellor concluded
by saying that ruthless summarizing
would not be begun at present"
Later the Chancellor urged Won
Bernstortf to encourage the President
% issue spontaneous appeal for
accepted by Germany, adding:
III the President cannot ccme to this
decision alone he must combine with
he Pope. tie King of Spain and Euro
pear reutrals in common action. which
could not be rejected by the Entente
and would secure President Wilson $
reelection and his historical fame"
Regarding President Wilson'S mani
festo OF Decer.ber 2l Herr thinner
mann Chen Foreign Secretary), in
formed Won Bernstorf that, although
Germany would reply to the Prcsi-
dents invitation by suggesting an i'm
ents, they would not consent that it be
held in America. asserting:
"American indiscretion and interfer-
ence would make the objective OF the
negotiations impossible ana be injuri-
Gus 70 our interests. Ws must create
a basis for future peace through direct
contact with our opponents ii we are
no. 10 run the danger of being de
prived OF our desired gain by the
pressure Of nei: rails"
SUB equcntly von Bernstorf tele-
graphed Won Bethmann-H -Hollweg that
Colonel House "requested absolutely
confidential negotiations, Of which only
ne. Presi dent Wilson and Won Bern
r'orT you'd know anything. Absolute
discretion would be secured in .te cir
cumstances, as both Pres dent Wilson
AID Colonel House are pretty clever at