“Most of them became super-Ambassadors and proceeded to inform the German Government that they must not believe me—­that they must not believe the President—­they must not believe the American people—­but believe these people, and to a great extent this war is due to the fact that these pro-German Americans, a certain number of them, misinformed the German Government as to the sentiments of this country.”

James W. Gerard’s diplomatic career in Germany was based upon bluntness, frankness and a kind of “news instinct” which caused him to regard his position as that of a reporter for the United States Government.

Berlin thought him the most unusual Ambassador it had ever known.  It never knew how to take him.  He did not behave as other diplomats did.  When he went to the Foreign Office it was always on business.  He did not flatter and praise, bow and chat or speak to Excellencies in the third person as European representatives usually do.  Gerard began at the beginning of the war a policy of keeping the United States fully informed regarding Germany.  He used to report daily the political developments and the press comment, and the keen understanding which he had of German methods was proved by his many forecasts of important developments.  Last September he predicted, in a message to the State Department, ruthless submarine warfare before Spring unless peace was made.  He notified Washington last October to watch for German intrigue in Mexico and said that unless we solved the problem there we might have trouble throughout the war from Germans south of the Rio Grande.

[Illustration:  AMBASSADOR GERARD ARRIVING IN PARIS]

During the submarine controversies, when reports reached Berlin that the United States was divided and would not support President Wilson in his submarine policy, Ambassador Gerard did everything he could to give the opposite impression.  He tried his best to keep Germany from driving the United States into the war.  That he did not succeed was not the fault of his efforts.  Germany was desperate and willing to disregard all nations and all international obligations in an attempt to win the war with U-boats.

Last Summer, during one of the crises over the sinking of a passenger liner without warning, Mr. Gerard asked the Chancellor for an audience with the Kaiser.  Von Bethmann-Hollweg said he would see if it could be arranged.  The Ambassador waited two weeks.  Nothing was done.  From his friends in Berlin he learned that the Navy was opposed to such a conference and would not give its consent.  Mr. Gerard went to Herr von Jagow who was then Secretary of State and again asked for an audience.  He waited another week.  Nothing happened and Mr. Gerard wrote the following note to the Chancellor: 

“Your Excellency,

“Three weeks ago I asked for an audience with His Majesty the Kaiser.

“A week ago I repeated the request.