File No. 763.72/3084
The Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 25, 9.20 a. m.]
4776. Press summary. The full text of the President’s note was not published until this morning, although unfavorable English and American press comment thereon had been published in the meantime. The Pan-Germanistic press terms the note a diplomatic ruse, a threat against Germany; although the Kreuz Zeitung states that if America prevails upon the Allies to make known their peace conditions, Germany could have no objection to following their example. Deutsche Tages Zeitung and Tägliche Rundschau claim that the President is only interfering with his familiar threats to save England from sure destruction, and that in view of his past attitude he can only expect that everything he does will be looked upon in Germany with suspicion. In Vossische Zeitung Bernhard writes that the note is plainly part of a grand intrigue to protect England and cheat Germany out of her just desert; Germany must be elusive, cautious, although there is no reason for her to reject abruptly this unbidden mediation. With knowledge of the full text of the note, he writes this morning that it is more friendly attitude than appeared at first; the best test of the Pope’s [President’s?] mediation will be his action if the Allies reject all peace proposals. The Berlin Tageblatt and other Liberal papers welcome the note and agree that it must bring peace appreciably nearer. Cologne Gazette writes that reserve is necessary until it is made clear that the President does not mean to have the peace terms made public; claims do not conflict with those of other nations; and that her proposals will form a suitable basis for lasting peace, was as far as she could go. Frankfurter writes that the note must be acceptable to both sides and will induce them both to make known their terms, thus clearing the atmosphere and paving the way for the real peace negotiations. The Vorwärts welcomes the note as a second positive step on road to peace. The paper points out that the jingo press are using exactly the same argument, namely, that America is trying to protect the enemy from imminent destruction, and that such talk can never serve the interests of peace; the President’s note, however, does eminent service in that it guarantees that the talk of peace can no longer be hushed but will gain ground and influence every day.