The New York herald., 1922-01-22

friendly America, declare herself to be pre-
pared to discuss with the United States
and to work together with her to make i'm
possible the destruction of American lives.
Germany shall declare herself ready to
make the strongest efforts to reach this
goal, but to expect that America will work
with her in this respect. The President is
of the opinion that Americans who take
passage on munitions ship take their
lives into their own hands, The Presi-
dent seems to expect that we ourselves
shall set forth an agreement in the matter,
possibly leaving out the principles and
fall back upon the above mentioned mu-
tual endeavors -
1t is evident that Albert gave this report
long consideration. 1t must have amazed
him, as it amazed others. That Albert
found it hard to accept is shown in his
personal comments added to the report.
He says.
"The foregoing information sounds
almost unbelievable. If 1t Is correct the
President has not understood the German
note at ALL and on the other hand does
not know what he says in his note. The
deliberately unfriendly act do not seem
to be clear to him.
IN. P. again emphasized how very much
the President was upset and disturbed
about the matter. how much he wishes to
come out of the matter how he en-
phasized that the note to England had
been ready when the Lustania case came
up and how he held out to NJ. P. that If he
could clear up this matter, how very much
obliged to him he would be-
'Tf the plan is to be carried through
he promises beforehand telegraphic con-
nections with Germany"
1t must be understood that, despite the
appearances of some of the work Albert
was doing, we were restricted to investi
cations and never reached a point where
we could charge this industrious propa-
gandst with compromising American neu-
trality or violating any American law.
He was here as the commercial represen-
tative of the Kaiser; to keep Berlin in
formed of the industrial activities of the
United States; to do what he could t.
wean American industries away from
English contracts and to disseminate
stories warranted to promote more cor
dial sentiment toward Germany.
Playing on Both Sides,
As This Incident Shows
But, while he was crying aloud that
Great Britain was violating international
law and insulting America by not per-
mitting America, a neutral to ship her
goods to whichever nation she willed.
Albert was denying the right of American
business men to ship their products to
Russia Albert was no more consistent
than Bernstorff.
For instance, the Orenstein-Arthur Kop-
pei Co., 80 Church street, New York, had q
perfectly legitimate and desirably prof.
table contract to sell large quantity Of
portable railway track to the Russian Gov
ernment. This corporation, not desiring
to work in any mysterious way or in any
way stoop to questionable practices, wrote
from its factory at Koppel, Pa. to the
German Consul in Philadelphia, DR..
Stobbe, asking whether Germany would
materials to Russia.
Stobbe appealed to Albert. Albert looked
up the law There was great to do about
it. Albert knew that his course would be
watched, inasmuch as he had raised such
bitter outcries against England's embargo
on goods destined from America to the
Central Powers. If Albert announced that
Germany would interfere with Americas
shipments to allied Governments his fu-
ture arguments about the freedom of the
seas would lack conviction and sincerity.
Lawyers for Orenstein-Arthur Koppel
communicated with Bernstorff. ,Bernstorff
replied that he could see no violation of
any German law in that firms acceptance
of the order" The Ambassador let 1t go at
that. He said nothing about the probable
action of German warships were the ship
bearing the valuable railroad material to
he intercepted, as It doubtless would be.
Besides. Germany needed such materials.
The orenstein-Arthur Koppel Company
could ship the stuff, having been paid at
the docks on this side of the Atlantic and
with all propriety and upholding Of busi-
ness ethics go about its business on other
contracts. Certainly nobody could expect
the corporation to guard the shipment once
it was on the high seas. Whole navies
could not guarantee safety on the. water
In those days.
Bernstorff communicated his thoughts to
Albert and Albert. having added few sug-
gestions and an outline for reply to
Koppel, passed them on
to Stobbe. And 'Stobbe. guided by Albert's
outline, notified Orenstein-Arthur Koppel
not 10 make the shipment.
DR.. Albert the Scapegoat.
While Bernstorf kept Clear
Thereupon the German Ambassador was
ready to show the American Government
that he. representative of Wilhelm Hohen-