THE KAISER AND THE LUSITANIA

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 35, 5 November 1917, Page 5

THE KAISER AND THE LUSITANIA

A DISCUSSION WITH ME. GERARD. The London "Daily Telegraph" publishes an account by Mr. Gerard, the lata American Ambassador, of an interview he had with the Kaiser on October 22, 1915:— "He was dressed in a Hussar uniform of 'tho new field grey, the parade uniform of which has on it frogs and trimmings of gold. A large table in the corner of the Toom was covered with maps, compasses, scales, and rulers, and it looked as if tho Emperor there, in company with some of his aides, or possibly the Chief of tho Staff, had been working out a plan of campaign for the Gorman armies, The Emepror was standing; so, naturally, I also stood, and, according to his habit, which is quite Eoosevoltian, he stood very close to me, and talked very earnestly. "I was fortunately able to clear up two distinct points which he had against America. The Emperor said ho bad read in a German paper that a number of submarines, built in America for England,' had crossed the Atlnntio to England, escorted by ships of the American I was, of course, able to deny this ridiculous story at tho time, and I furnished definite proofs later. The Emperor complained because a loan to England and France had been floated in America. I said the first _ loan to a belligerent floated in America was a loan to Germany. The Emperor sent for some of his staff, and immediately inquired into the mattor. A member of the staff confirmed my statement. "The Emperor said lie would not have permitted the torpedoing of the Lusitania if he had known it, and that no gentleman, would .kill so many women and children. "

• "Tho Emperor showed great bitterness against the United States, and repeatedly said: 'America had better look out after this war/ and 'I sljall 6tand no nonsense from America after the war.'

"The interview lasted about an lionr and a quarter, and when I finally emerged from tlio room tho officers of the Emperor's houshold were in such a state of agitation that I felt sure they mnst have thought something fearful had occurred."