File No. 763.72/7651

The Minister in Sweden ( Morris) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

965. I have information coming direct from Herman Leube, a member of the German Reichstag and on the Foreign Relations Committee, as follows:

Leube said the democratization of Germany had made further progress by Count Hertling’s refusal to accept office when advised [Page 303] by the Kaiser of his appointment and that the democratization of Germany was the basis of America’s declaration of and the purpose of her war. For the first time in the history of Germany a Chancellor had notified the Kaiser that he would first require the confidence and support of the four different parties of the Reichstag before he would accept the appointment, but on Hertling submitting his program to their leaders they declined to give him their confidence. Two days after this the secretaries of state called a meeting of the leaders of the Reichstag in consequence of which Hertling was called before them and, at the meeting which took place, he was advised that he had their support, and the next morning he notified the Kaiser of his acceptance. Leube stated that Von Kühlmann would be very close to Hertling, no doubt as Foreign Minister, and would most likely be the Chancellor to succeed Hertling. Michaelis had been used merely as a stop-gap, as it was customary in Germany for an outgoing Chancellor to nominate a successor and when Bethmann Hollweg had stepped down he had nominated as Chancellor, Hertling. Leube still thought peace would be possible by the new year as he thought Russia was finished and the recent reversals in Italy, which he predicted would in the next three weeks be increased considerably owing to the untenable position of the Italian troops, would, when it became known to the people of Italy, either cause a revolution or separate peace with Germany. Leube stated that Germany had no desire for war with Italy and wished no indemnity or territory from them. He further said that the Italian Army consisted of about 1,500,000 men, and not 3,000,000, and of this one-third had already been smashed. He said that withdrawal of 750,000 German troops from Russia and Italy hurled against a new position not yet defined on the western front would also have a tremendous bearing on the war; that France was also tired of the war and the withdrawal of Italy and Russia would have such an effect upon France that possibly by Christmas England would be bearing the brunt of the burden which he did not think they would be willing to do. He stated that there were at present 2,100,000 prisoners of war in Germany, of which 300,000 were in camps, the balance scattered throughout the Empire doing work. Leube said that Germany was at present in excellent condition, bounteous crops of Servia and Roumania had given them plenty of food and plenty of meat was procurable throughout Germany as cattle breeding had been very good with large returns. Benzine and oil were plentiful.

Morris