"SCRAPS OF PAPER"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 14, 11 October 1917, Page 5

"SCRAPS OF PAPER"

WHAT ' A GERMAN GRAND DTJKE SAID TO MR. GEKAItD,

A recent instalment of Mr. Gerard's reminiscences in the "Daily Telegraph' , deals, to a considerable extent, irith the Gorman anger at the fact that munitions for the Allies jvere being made in the United States. He says: . . .

"From early iri 1915 until I left Germany I do not. think I ever had a conversation with a German without his alluding to this question. Shortly before leaving Germany [in January, 1917, and after- I had learned of the probability of a resumption of rath less marine war, at an evening- party at Dr. Solf's, the Colonial Minieterj a large German, who Turned out to be one of tho Grand Dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, planted himself some - distance away f r<olll me and addressed me in German..saying:

"'You are the' American Ambassador, and I want to tell you that the conduct of America in furnishing arras and ammunition to the enemies of Germany 19 stamped deop on the German heart, that we will never, forget it, and will some day have our Tovonge.' • .

"Ho spoke' in a voico so lond nnd slapped his chest 60 hard that ejreryone iu the room slopped his conversation in order to hour. As he wore on liio breast Ihe Orders of the Black, Eagle, Bed Eagle, Elephant, and Seraphim, when he (struck all this menagerie the rattlo alone was qnito loud. ' : ■ "1 reminded him politely of the Hague Convention, of the fact that we could not change international Jaw from time to time with a change in the situation of the war, and that Germany bad furnished arms for England to use against the Boers," adds Mr. Gerard, "but ho simply answered,' saying, 'Wo care nothing for treaties,' and my answer. 'That is whnt they all say.' was a retort too obvious to be omitted."