“5. The President, in order to ascertain from Mr. M. P. how strong the German influence of this syndicate is, would like to have the trend of the German note before the note is officially sent, and declares himself ready, before the answer is drafted, to discuss it with M. P., and eventually to so influence it that there will be an agreement for its reception, and also to be ready to influence the press through a wink.
“6. As far as the note itself is concerned, which he awaits, so he awaits another expression of regret, which was not followed in the last note—regret together with the statement that nobody had expected that human lives would be lost and that the ship would sink so quickly.
“The President is said to have openly declared that he could hardly hope for a positive statement that the submarine warfare would be discontinued.”
WHAT HIS SECRET CORRESPONDENCE REVEALED
Dr. Albert also was in close communication with the American branches of German industries. This fact is apparent from secret correspondence found in his dossier, showing how after much deliberation and consultation a group of German representatives in America forbade the American branch of a German firm to fill a Russian war order. This correspondence shows that the American branch first sought information as to whether or not it should fill the order either as a means of making money or, secondly, as a means of delaying the Russian Government in getting the material. One of the Embassy staff wrote suggesting that the Ambassador approve of the acceptance of the order as a means of hindering the Allies. After a conference it was reported:
“In my opinion it would be hazardous for your firm to ship locomotives, cars, or wheels to Russia. All these transportation means would lighten the transport of troops, ammunition and provisions for the Russian Government, and your firm would, within the meaning of Paragraph 89 of the (German) Penal Code, be rendering aid to the enemy thereby.... That you are in a position to delay the delivery of the order to the prejudice of the hostile country ordering them will in no measure relieve you from liability.”