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.

"Please do not trouble yourself further.

"Respectfully,

"JAMES W. GERARD."

The Ambassador called the Embassy messenger and sent the note to the
Chancellor's palace. Three hours later he was told that von
Bethmann-Hollweg had gone to Great Headquarters to arrange for the
meeting.

Sometimes in dealing with the Foreign Office the Ambassador used the
same rough-shod methods which made the Big Stick effective during the
Roosevelt Administration. At one time, Alexander Cochran, of New York,
acted as special courier from the Embassy in London to Berlin. At the
frontier he was arrested and imprisoned. The Ambassador heard of it,
went to the Foreign Office and demanded Cochran's immediate release.
The Ambassador had obtained Mr. Cochran's passports, and showed them to
the Secretary of State. When Herr von Jagow asked permission to retain
one of the passports so the matter could be investigated, the
Ambassador said:

"All right, but first let me