ially that Rintelen was sent to
America to buy up the product of the Dupont Powder Company, and
that if he did anything else he exceeded his instructions.

Shop people in Berlin with whom I have talked are getting sick of
the war.

I hear rumours that Germany is trying, through its Minister in
China, to come to an understanding with Japan and Russia.

The banks are sending circulars to all safe-deposit box holders,
trying to get them to give up their gold.

An American clergyman has just told me the German church body has
refused to receive an American Church deputation and has written
a very bitter letter.

An official has told me that no new Military Attache will be sent
to America. The naval people have not yet decided.

* * * * *

I am very glad to hear Colonel House is coming over. There are
many things I want to tell the President but which I do not dare
to commit to paper.

A newspaperman supposed to be of the _New York_ ---- had an
interview with Zimmermann the other day, and Zimmermann sent some
messages by him to the President. I do not know what the
messages are. We all suffer much from amateur diplomats.

* * * * *

Anthony Czarnecki, a very intelligent Chicagoan, an American of
Polish descent, is here representing Victor Lawson and the
_Chicago Daily News_. He informs me that the Spy Nest is
contemplating an attack on the Administration because of the
taking away of Archibald's and others' passports.

* * * * *

My impression is that the Austrians, owing to pressure from here,
will eventually give in on the _Ancona_ business. I think the
present a good time to force the settlement of the _Lusitania_
question.

NOTE. I do not suppose that any Ambassador ever
suffered as much from amateur "super Ambassadors"
as I did.

The German Foreign Office, trying to be modern and
up-to-date at times, paid more attention to the
tales of pro-German American correspondents than
they did to the utterances of President Wilson.

Of course, the Germans succeeded in taking many of
those correspondents in their camp. In the Hotel
---- in Berlin an agent of the German Government
who possessed American citizenship was always
ready to arrange trips to the front or to make an
advance of money to an American correspondent who
would promise to be "goo