THE WORLD WAR: PERIOD OF AMERICAN NEUTRALITY 677



engaged with the General Staff in providing raw materials for
Germany.
  I think Zimmermann hollered at the Colonel-he certainly tried
to scare me.
  Morgenthau was here a day. I took him to see von Jagow, and
through some Germans he met Zimmermann. Of course having a
political talk with Zimmermann was technically an invasion of my
bailiwick, but I welcome anything that might clear the situation.
  Von Jagow said that Germany had never given any guarantees
about submarine war, but had only stated that certain orders had
been given to submarine commanders. He said Germany reserved
the right to alter these orders-at any time.
  Morgenthau says that Zimmermann asked him if the German-
Americans would not rise in rebellion in case of war.
  The enclosed from the [London] Times of February 6th [4th] 13
confirms one thing stated to me in a certain interview, which inter-
view has doubtless been related by now by my brother-in-law, Marcus
Daly, to the President.
  I think the Germans are getting short of copper and nickel, espe-
cially the latter. Copper lighting rods of churches have been taken
and an effort was made to take the brass reading desk in the American
church and the fittings in the Japanese Embassy.
  I think from underground rumors that the Germans and the prop-
agandists will endeavor to embroil us with Japan.

  There was a well-defined report that Germany would issue a mani-
festo stating that enemy merchant ships would be fired on without
notice and this because of orders alleged to have been found on
British ships ordering merchant ships to fire on submarines at sight.
  The Chancellor told me Germany was ready for peace-but that
all his emissaries had met with a cold reception in the allied countries
of France England & Russia.
  The other enclosure1 shows a slight concession to the Socialists
& the general regulation as it stood might interest Labor Leaders,
of intelligence, like Gompers.
      Yours ever
                                                J. W. G [ERARD]

 "- Not printed; quotes the Cologne Gazette to the effect that the war
is one
 between governments of lawyers at London, Paris, and Rome, and governments
 of national kings at Berlin, Vienna, Budapest, and Sofia.
 14Not printed; an article from the Berliner Tageblatt of February 8, 1916,
 reporting that the Prussian Ministry of Railways was no longer prohibiting
 railway employees from taking part in Socialist Party activities.