SPEECH BY THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR IN BERLIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16434, 10 January 1917, Page 7

SPEECH BY THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR IN BERLIN.

GERMAN-AMERICAN RELATIONS NEVER BETTER. WASHINGTON DEMANDS TO KNOW WHAT WAS SA'D. Australian and N.Z. Cabla Association. AMSTERDAM, Jan. 8. The American Chamber of Commerce in Berlin gave a dinner to celebrate the return of Mr. Gerard, American Ambassador to Germany. In the course of his speech Herr Helfferich, German Minister for Finance, expressed the hope that American and German relations would continue friendly. He denied that Germany suffered from over-militarism; it was merely systematisation and organisation for defence. Compared with French and Russian preparations Germany exhibited too little militarism. The war showed that Germany was justified in bringing her army to the two or three Power standard. He suggested that Britain, who claimed half the earth and the whole of the sea, was the cradle of super-militarism. Mr. Gerard, in reply, said that the relations between the United States and Germany were never better. While Dr. BethmannHollweg, General Hindenburg, Admiral Capelle, and Herr Zimmermann continued in their positions he was certain that the relations would so continue. He brought the olive branch from Mr. Wilson. Herr Gwinner, director of the German Bank, said that Mr. Gerard, like the peace dove, found it still raining, but saw signs of a rainbow. WASHINGTON. Jan. 8. The State Department has instructed Mr. Gerard to forward the text of his speech to Washington.