st 14th
last, is interesting because Reventlow is without doubt the
oracle and mouthpiece of the Prussian Conservatives. He continues
to attack me in this article but much of the attack is in reality
praise, and, as we say in expressive slang, "every knock is a
boost." The article continues:

"It is very desirable to know if the former
Chancellor was present at the audience; it is
regrettably not inconceivable, but is a new proof
of the incompetence of the Chancellor, that he did
not, according to his duty, inform his Imperial
Lord of the political personality and character of
a man like Gerard.

"In the U-boat crisis Mr. Gerard had been able to
play a quite decisive part. He was like Mr. von
Bethmann-Hollweg entirely of the view that the
German Empire must give in to the demands of the
United States and constantly showed himself
wonderfully informed about what step each inner
circle would for the moment take.

"The influence of Mr. Gerard is all the more a
shameful and heavy reproach for the official
leadership of Mr. von Bethmann-Hollweg, since this
American Ambassador, while an intriguer, was not a
personality.

"But when Gerard said anything, wished anything or
threatened anything, that imported always a
fear-exciting event, and he was finally sly enough
to seize and use this halo to the limit. That a
man like Gerard has been able through all these
years to win and keep such a position and such an
influence over German affairs is without example."

But I must really put aside the halo which Reventlow so
graciously hands me. While I was informed of what was going on, I
certainly did my best to persuade Bethmann-Hollweg and von Jagow
and Zimmermann as well as the Emperor and numberless others from
defying America. If von Bethmann-Hollweg and any of the others
were against ruthless submarine war, seeing that to adopt any
other policy would bring America into this war, then they took
this position because it seemed to them best for their country
and history will prove them right.

Reventlow says further:

"In the winter of 1916-17 one dreamed already of
loans and imports from the United States during
the peace negotiations. Mr. Gerard came back from
America with alms for the wounded and the result
of his sublime patience and of the sublime
patien