OCR Text |
Show ISM SCORNED If SHU'S BFFE1I Peace Proposals Not Well Received; Didn't Really Fear Intervention. BERLIN", Oct. (By fll? Asso ciated Press.) President Wilson eaee ofr'er was a matter uf little concern con-cern to the German emperor, aceordini; to tho evidence presented before t he subcommittee investigating the war. FurtUermore, tlic intervention of tin United States apparently was not seriously seri-ously considered by the emperor. Tho incident caused a sensation and occurred during the examination of Count von Bernstorff, former ambassador ambassa-dor at Washington. The socialist deputy, dep-uty, Dr. Sinahcimer, turned toward Von Bernstorff and said: "The kaiser's telegram, to which you refer, dated January 1G, 1917, and ad dresod to IT err Zimmevmnnn (fori'ipn secretary) says literally: 1 Mis majes'y instructs me m thank you for your communication. com-munication. His ma.icsry does not care a bit about President Wilson's offer. If a breach with America can not be prevented, it can not be helped. Events are developing.''7 There, was much excitement at the hearing when tho message was read. lr. Karl Helff erich, former vice chancellor, chancel-lor, exclaimed, ' 1 Nonsense! ' ' Dr. Sinsheimer maintained that the peace conditions sent to President Wilson Wil-son on January 28, 1917, which were said to be the same as those Germany offered on December 13, 1916, were really nothing like them. Every one present appeared astounded as-tounded at this statement and Count von Bernstorff exclaimed excitedly : ' Then I am told this today for the first time." Count von Bernstorff said that in his discussions with the United States government gov-ernment there was no question of territory terri-tory concerned in giving' Poland access to the sea or being withdrawn from German Ger-man sovereignty. Replying to another Question, the former ambassador said : "Without America's help, the entente could not have vanquished Germany. If we succeeded In preventing war with America a peace of understanding would at least have been possible.'' Von Bernstorff also expressed the opinion opin-ion that President Wilson would have raised no difficulties had the proposed world conference 'to settle peace solved the Polish question in a manner differing from President Wilson's ideas. The discussion today turned largely upon the period of the declaration by Germany Ger-many of her submarine warfare. Von Bernstorff testified that after President Wilson's message to congress on January 22 Colonel ID. jT. House, the president's confidential adv Iser, summoned him to Xew York, and thereupon Von Bernatorlf cabled his government saying that the United States did not intend to interfere in territorial questions, but wanted Germany's Ger-many's peace conditions made public as evidence of Germany's sincerity, and adding: add-ing: "If the submarine warfare is begun straightway, the president would feel it a blow in the face and war witn America would be unavoidable." Dr. Sinsheimer pointed out that . Von Bernstorff was aware officially, Januar.v 16, that submarine warfare had been decided de-cided on and that the ambassador was to present a note to the Washington government gov-ernment concerning it on January 21. Von Bernstorff then continued: "I communicated the peace conditions to Colonel House on the thirtieth and on the thirty-first presented the declaration of submarine warfare. Afterward I negotiated nego-tiated with nobody." The subcommittee adjourned until October Octo-ber 31, when Count von Bethmann-Holl-weg, former imperial chancellor, will be examined, and, if necessary, be confronted confront-ed with Count von Bernstorff. |