Office of the Historian

Paris Peace Conf. 184.01202/37

Captain W. R. Gherardi to the Commission to Negotiate Peace

No. 4
Berlin, February 11, 1919.
[Received February 14.]

Subject: Political situation.

1.
Since the meeting of the convention at Weimar there has been a decided change in tone. The Social Democratic party, unable to have support from the Independent Socialists, has had to secure its majority from an understanding with the German Democratic Party. What this party stands for may be reckoned from the names which [Page 13] appear on its committee (v. Payer, Schiffer, Naumann, Dernburg, v. Richthofen, Neumann-Hofer).
2.
It is reported that Dernburg has said Germany will never make peace without the return of the colonies. In the introductory speeches of both Ebert and David claims on a popular vote for the disposition of Alsace-Lorraine were made. Meetings of protest are being held over the retention of the prisoners of war where extravagant speeches are made. It is evident that the old politicians are more and more gaining an ascendency and are using it to incite resistance to any acceptance of probable allied terms. Bernstorff has been at Weimar, ostensibly having left diplomatic to take up political life. I am told that he has been pressing “inspired interviews”; that is, prepared and typewritten answers to supposed questions by the United Press correspondent. He is said to have ascendency over his cousin, Brockdorff-Rantzau, and that he is a figure to be reckoned with in present and future political circumstance. He is reported to claim to belong to the German Democratic Party.
3.
The trump card which this government is expected to use in its dealing with the peace conference is that without having its claims allowed the country will become Bolsheviki. This matter I have mentioned before, but Bolshevism has nothing to do with colonies or territorial claims about the border lands. What the proletariat will want is the ability to make a living. To stir up feeling amongst the masses over territorial questions on the part of their leaders and then claim that unless these demands are satisfied the country will go Bolsheviki is an unjustifiable and dangerous play. It savors of the pre-war and war time methods of Germany. Yesterday a wagon went through the streets scattering leaflets calling for the return of the German prisoners.
W. R. Gherardi