NOTICE TO QUIT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 959, 8 March 1917, Page 6

NOTICE TO QUIT.

BERNSTORFF "TURNED OUT." HOW AMERICA BROKE WITH GERMANY. AMBASSADOR NOT SURPRISED. [The following racy account of the "notice to quit" served by. Mr Lansing on Count Bernstorff is taken from the New York "Herald."] Count Bernstorff, the German Ambassador, accepted calmly the news of his dismissal from the United States. He had said for the last 48 hours that he fully expected it, and that the step was warranted, he knew, on the part of the United States Government.

The State Department did everything possible to veil the act of notification of the German Ambassador in secrecy. Ordinarily passports are taken to Ambassadors and Ministers about to be dismissed from the country by "Eddie" Savoie, the negro messenger of the Secretary of State. This morning (Feb. 3) "Eddie" appeared, fittingly costumed for such a mission. When the news was announced the President had decided to hand the German Ambassador his passports, "Eddie" was watched closely. In a little while he disappeared, but he did not this time carry the passports to the Ambassador. Instead, he went into a room and stayed out of sight of reporters, while Lester H. Woolscy, legal adviser to the State Department, slipped out of the building, with the passports concealed under a newspaper. Roundabout Notification.

Mr Woolsey proceeded by a roundabout route, casually dropping into a dairy lunchroom. There he met, already seated at a table, Dr Elder, private secretary of Count Bernstorff. The two partook of "ham, and" and then went slowly toward the Embassy.

Just as President Wilson appeared at the Speaker's desk in the House of Representatives to announce to ■Congress that relations with Germany had been broken off, Mr Woolsey was ushered into Count BernstorfFs library and gave him his passports.

The Ambassador immediately afterward . received the newspaper men, but protested against every effort to interview him. He said he was a private citizen and had retired from politics for ever.

The Ambassador said he had left matters in the hands of the Swiss Minister here, who is to represent German interests in the United States.

The Ambassador expressed some doubt as to the ability of the United States to arrange for him to reach Germany safely. He declared he had no idea whether the submarine blockade of his own Government would be lifted for his protection. But the Stale Department has no such misgivings. The Swiss Minister, Dr. Paul Ritter, conferred with State Department officials late this afternoon regarding arrangements for the Ambassador to leave. Details of the arrangements were noj made known, but the State Department expects him to get safely to Germany. The Ambassador said that he would remain at the Embassy here for a few days at any rate. He said that he would not, however, fulfil any engagement of an official nature. He conferred at length with the new Austrian Ambassador, Count Tarnowski, who is endeavouring to have President Wilson accept his credentials as Austrian Ambassador in order that he may take up the task of looking out for the Central Powers' interests in the United States. Count Tarnowski called twice at the State Department in an effort to arrange an audience with the President. But it had not been decided to accept his credentials, and it appears probable that relations will be severed with Austria-Hungary and that Count Tarnowski will be sent back home without ever having been presented to the President.

Break with Austria Likely

The American Ambassador at Vienna, Mr Penfield, cabled the State Department a report on Austria's participation in the submarine blockade. Austria has sent no official notification to the United States, doubtless because the Central Powers want her to maintain an Ambassador here, but if her participation in the blockade is established, diplomatic relations with her probably will be severed anyhow. Count von Bernstorff was at his desk signing personal cheques, when a newspaper reporter called before the notification. "Well," he said, smiling and offering his hand, "what do you hear this morning? Am I going to be turned out? No information? Well, I haven't heard a word." As the talk drifted to prospects of peace a telephone bell tinkled. The Ambassador picked up the receiver, smiling. Then the expression of his face changed. "You say relations have been broken and that the President is going to Congress? Well, I have no comment to make. If that is true, I am a private citizen again." Breaks News to His Wife. The Ambassador quickly walked into the next room to carry the news to Countess von Bernstorff. When he returned his eyes were moist, and I he said: — "So it really is true. I'm so sorry. ! However, as you know, I expected it. ,1 never expected anything else. There was nothing left for the United States to do. I wonder how I am going to get home. "I suppose I will get my passports any time now. But I certainly am not surprised at the action that has been taken. My people in Berlin will not be surprised, either. They

knew whal was coming when Ihey declared unrestricted submarine warfare. However, I have simply been here fo carry out the orders of my Government and I have done so. I haven't had any communication from my Government for the last day or so, and now I suppose I will be unable to communicate with | them at all, since the use of my code | probably would not be permitted." ! It was nearly 2 o'clock when the Assistant Solicitor, Mr Woolscy, of j the State Department, arrived at the Embassy with the Ambassador's 1 passports and a note from Mr Lan- j sing. Mr Woolscy was taken to the j Embassy study. He delivered tbe documents and left immediately. A i group of newspaper correspondents then went in. The Ambassador, :is is his custom, | sat down under a portrait of his Em- j peror and opened the conversation by saying:— j

A Private Citizen Now. "I am very glad to see you, gentlemen, but what interest can you have in me now? I am a private citizen j again." , "Have you received your passports, Mr Ambassador?" he was asked. "Yes," he replied. "I have them for myself, my family, and my suite." The Ambassador was told that the I United States would take necessary steps to protect American life and property on the seas and was asked what woidd happen. "What will happen?" he replied. "I can't say about that. If American warships are going to convoy ships carrying ammunition—well, really—l can't say what will happen." And the Ambassador shrugged his shoulders, lifting his hands and letting them fall to his knees. The interview over, Count von BernstorlF went into an adjoining parlour and there conferred for half an hour with William Nye, of the United States Secret Service, who had called to arrange for one of his men to remain constantly with the Ambassador during the remainder of his stay in the United States. This step was taken as a measure of personal protection.