File No. 763.72/2532

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Germany (Gerard)

[Telegram]

2858. Your 3666, March 26. Department convinced Evening Post article was not based on your report, as details given were absolutely inaccurate and article did not refer in any way to other interesting details in your report. Article stated that this Government had been asked to mediate and that you were remaining on account of possibility of peace negotiations. No such statement in your report. On the contrary, Chancellor seemed to indicate that he doubted if this Government could be asked to act. Peace terms in Post article were practically same terms that have been published for many months. Careful investigation convinces me that basis of story did not come from Executive Office or this Department. Have reason to believe that it was cabled from Berlin and let pass by British censor or came from London direct, or that story was sent here by mail to be released when your conference was reported in press. White House and Department issued statements denying absolutely truth of story published, and stated that no peace suggestions of any kind had come from German Government through you; that there was no indication of any move towards peace, and that you were not delaying your vacation because of possibilities of negotiations. Regret incident but convinced beyond question from careful investigation that your cable was not basis of newspaper article.

Lansing