123 G 31/51½
The Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 29.]
My Dear Mr. Secretary: Pursuant to orders I have been jollying them here. Last Saturday the American Association of Commerce and Trade gave me a banquet at the Hotel Adlon. Every place possible was occupied and many distinguished and influential Germans were present. Such as Helfferich, Solf, Professor Delbrück, Dernburg, Gutmann, Gwinner, von Holtzendorff, Prince Isenburg, Meyer Gerhardt, the Vice President of the Reichstag, etc., the proprietors and editors of the best newspapers, etc. I enclose a list of guests31 but the menu adorned with my picture I do not send out of modesty—besides, it is too large.
Remarks, all I think “safe”, were made by Mr. Wolf, head of the association, Helfferich, von Gwinner, Zimmermann, (who came in late) and me.
Yesterday the Chancellor sent for me to congratulate me and thank me. So you see orders are obeyed.
I brought with me, or there has been sent me, about 370,000 marks for charitable purposes—quite welcome.
Of course the Pan German and anti Chancellor papers attacked the dinner. But it is my business to be with the Chancellor—whom I like anyway.
Our Consul received a letter from Belgians who say they are made to work and are beaten with guns and badly treated in Germany.
No chance at present of Germany either stating peace terms or sending back the stolen Belgians.
At Dr. Solf’s house last Sunday night, a Duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin (not the reigning one) tackled me quite offensively about the President and the sale of war supplies. It is hard to keep the temper but as this individual abused the Kaiser as well perhaps he is not all there.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Germany wants a peace conference in order to make a separate peace, on good terms to them, with France and Russia. Then she [Page 699] hopes to finish England by submarines, then, later, take the scalp of Japan, Russia, and Japan [sic] separately. The Allies ought to remember what Ben Franklin said about hanging together or separately. I get the above scheme from very good authority.
Yours ever
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