The New York herald., 1922-06-19
Proposal in Spring of 1918
to Lay Down Arms and
Evacuate Belgium.
COULDN'T TRUST GERMANS
President Declined to Take Up
Offer-Yon Haniel Con-
firms Story in Part.


1918 that are now being told is a
statement by Dr. Robert e. Moore Of
Philadelphia, who says that the Ger
man offensive was held up for ten days
in the spring of 1918 while an offer Of
peace by the Germans was made to
President Wilson through the medium
of Harold F. Mccormick of Chicago,
who made a special trip from Zurich
to Washington, crossing the ocean on
board battleship. at Mr.. Wilson's
request DIR. Moore says he was Mr..
McCormick's physician and personal
representative and that he was with
Mccormick at the time negotiations
were carried on in Zurich.
DR.. Moore's statement to THE New
YORK HERALD. describing for the first
time the details of these peace nego-
tiations, has been submitted by THE
NEW York HERALD correspondent to
DR.. Won Haniel of the German Foreign
Office, who represented Won Hertling,
former German Chancellor. in the ne
gotiations. Won Haniel confirms DR..
Moore's statement in virtually every
particular. except to deny that the
offensive was held up. as preparations,
says Won Haniel, were too far under
way.
The negotiations In Zurich carried on
by Mccormick began in September,
1917. and lasted till March. 1918. says
DR.. Moore, when Mccormick was sent
for by Wilson to bring the German offer
to Washington. Or. Moore says that
this offer was to lay down arms and
evacuate Belgium as the basis for fur
ther negotiations for peace. President
Wilson, says DIR. Moore. had full cog
nizance Of tho negotiations in Switzer-
land, and authorized Mccormick to con-
duct them independently Of the Ameri-
can Ministry in Berne; but when he
finally received the report from the
hands of Mccormick. with the Germans
waiting in Zurich for an answer. the
President did not act upon them. ac-
cording to DIR. Moore. and the German
offensive of March was released.
"CouIdn't Trust the Germans"
It was not until after many weeks
that Mr.. Wilson told Mr.. Mccormick
that 1t was too late. / couldn't trust
the Germans"
DR.. Moore tells an interesting story Of
the negotiations. which were held in
private laboratory IF a Swiss millionaire
chemical manufacturer. Herr Nathan.
who had seen book written by Nc,
Cormick. and had brought Won Haniel
TO Zurich to see Mccormick.
For five months, he said. Won
Haniel kept travelling to and from Ber
lin. and on every visit Mccormick and
myself were followed by American Sc
cret Service agents. who were trying to
learn what were our plans. On each visit
Mccormick would write out what Won
Haniel had brought from the German
Foreign Office, and as soon as he felt
the plan could be successfully developed
at Washington, he notified Wilson. The
President had given assurance previ-
ously that he would be glad to receive
anything Mccormick might obtain. and
Immediately cabled Mccormick instruct
ing him to send everything through
p. A. Stovall then American Minister
In Bern.
won Hanei objected to this, deilar-
ing that the German Government trusted
Wilson as the only leader likely to win
over the Allies, but refused outright to
permit such a vital matter as the Ger
man Governments inner views on the
whole war subject to pass through hands
other than McCormlck's or Wilson's.
When Wilson was informed Of this, he
cabled back to bring them Immediately.
sending any documents desired under
personal seal in the diplomatic valise
from Bern to Paris. After a fort
night. Mccormick left via Paris. where
the embassy furnished battleship trans
port.
"I was left in Zurich. in close touch
with Nathan and Won Hanicl. waiting
for the yes or no answer. which all ex-
pected Wilson TO give Immediately. After
ten days waiting. Nathan told me they
had been holding up the offensive. and
could not understand Wilson's delay. A
few days later the spring drive COM
menced.
Germans Hnd Great Hopes.
Nothing ever came via Zurich either
to Nathan or myself and Mccormick
himself did not know for long time
what was Wilson's decision. Then he
vas briefly informed that things had
gone too far, and that 1t had been de-
cfded the Germans were not to be
trusted under the circumstances.
When Won Hanel was asked In Berlin
b, THE NEW York HERALD correspon-
dent for his comment. he denied that
the peace terms offered were definite.
They took the form of an exchange
os views, Mccormick asking questions TO
which / gave verbal replies" he said.
THAT comprised our pledgs to evacuate
BelgIum. We insisted that Germany did
not want annexation, and agreed to adj
nit tho principal of self-determination
for the peoples of the Baltic provinces of
Prssia and Poland. and would not de-
n,and any eastern anncxations.
Personally" added Won Haniel. "f
consider that the German Government
did not go far enough In the proposals
made TO Mccormick. The German Gov
eminent hoped that Mccormick would
return and resume the converse tions. but
hoped in vain, and received only vague
answer from the United States many
months later"
Won Hariel stated emphatically thai
the Mccormick meetings ended too late
in March TO interfere with the plans for
the offensive. and that the German Gov
ernment bad not agreed to hold them w