COUNT BERNSTORFF

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 February 1917, Page 5

COUNT BERNSTORFF

AN AMAZING INTERVIEW.

THE AMBASSADOR TALKS FREELY.

OPINIONS OF MEN AND

THINGS

[AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.]

Received this clay at 8.55 a.in NEW- YORE,- February 23.

The New York editor of "Pearson's Magaine" had a remarkable interview with Count Bernstorff, who - says : —' 'My Government told me not to admt that the sinking of the-Lusitania was illegal. President Wilson 'insisted that it was illegal and I left White House feel\ng that wo--was inevitable, but returning, I begged President Wilson, as innn to man, not to give up his position of arbiter to the warring nations. Count Bernstorff himself did not approve of the morality of the sinking of the Lusitania. The announcement of intensified submarining was a'blow to the Ambassador, who feels that the work of years has been ruined, and by Germany. Asked his plans, the Countess interjected: I want him chosen for Paris.

Count Bernstorft said that it would be a superhuman task winning back French friendship. The interviewer: Why not give back the French provinces and Lorraine? Count Bernstorff: The German people will never give them up. We are the victors. That is out of the question. Asked his views on religion and the .future of humanity, Count Bernstorff replied: I know this world. I hay ono (rouble about any other. I frankly dislike the churches and I doubt whether their influence is for good. A man is a fool who denies himself any good thing in this life. Count Bernstorff described President Wilson as a rare combination of a sensitive conscience and great strength.

The interviewer adds: Count Bernstorff will tell the Kaiser the truth, but will he he in time to prevent the seemingly inevitable?