POSER FOR GERMAN CHANCELLOR

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 87, 11 October 1915, Page 8

POSER FOR GERMAN CHANCELLOR

WHAT AN AMERICAN TOLD HIM Mr. Franz Hugo Krebs, the Boston lawyer who recently visited Berlin in the interests of an abortive movement started by German- Americans to have the German cable communication re-opened under American auspices, published in New York at the end of August an interview with Dr. Bethmann-Hollweg, the German Chancellor. After listening to the visitor's plan and asking, "Do you think for a moment the British would allow the cable to be opened?" the Chancellor looked Mr. Krebs straight in the face and the following conversation ensued : — "When did you leave the United States?" "Three weeks ago," was the answer. "What was the state of public oninion then?" . "Strongly in favour of the Allies," "Why?" "Partly on account of the violation of Belgium, partly on account of the very kindly feeling for France, N partly on account of our close financial relations with Great Britain, and largely on account of the violent propanganda carried on in the United States by Germans and German- Americans." "Don't the American people believe a man has the right to show his fondness for the land of his birth?" continued the Chancellor. "Yes, your Excellency, they do, and are very sympathetic to all matters of that land. But suppose the conditions reversed. Suppose the United States and Great Britain were at war. Further, suppose there were about two and a-half millions of Americans by birth living in Germany and enough more of American descent to bring the number up to twenty millions. Suppose also that 75 per cent, of your people favoured Great Britain, and that practically all your upper classes did so, and suppose that your Government desired to remain neutral — how long would you tolerate an agitation such as has been carried on in the United ' States for months past? Under those conditions would' not you stop it with an iron hand before it gained any considerable headway?" The Chancellor found this question a poser and pretended to require the services of an interpreter. After the question had been translated the Chancellor innocently observed, " Mr. Krebs, this view is a novel one to me. Surely Americans can't believe that Germany would interfere in their internal policies? Dr. Bethmann-Hollweg, after confidently predicting a Teutonic victory and denying that Germans hated Great Britain, proceeded to denounce * the upper classes in Great Britain for their " selfish, cruel, and unscientific attitude towards the dwellers in the slums," and prophesied that because of that attitude Great Britain could not be saved in her hour of peril. Then suddenly the Chancellor changed { the subject, saying, "Let us not talk about the war. Tell me how is woman suffrage coming on in the United States?" Mr. Krebs informed him that the cause was rapidly advancing, whereupon the Chancellor said, "Perhaps it will be the best thing for you." MORE REVELATIONS. Dr. Bethman-Hollweg's feigned astonishment at the idea that Germany could wish to interfere in the internal affairs of the United States receives an amusing commentary from the publication by the New York World of a further series of official German letters. One, bearing the signature of Count Bernstorff, the Ambassador, encloses a cheque for £1000 to Mr. Marcus Braun, the editor of the pro-German periodical Fairplay. After telling Mr. Braun that he had read Fairplay for three years, the Ambassador certifies : "I can state that this publication has always taken the American point of view," and that since the war it has " treated all belligerents justly and thereby rendered great services to millions of foreign-born citizens in this country, especially those of German and Austro-Hungarian origin," fighting "for the rights of the latter and for truth, always maintaining an American attitude and showing the true American spirit." The letter concludes, "You are at liberty to show this letter to anybody who is interested, but I beg of you not to publish it,' as this would be contrary to the instructions of my Government, which 'does not wish me publicly to advertise in any reviews or newspapers. — Very sincerely yours, yon Bernstorff."