File No. 763.72/1905
The Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 26, 4.30 p. m.]
2494. The suspension of the newspaper reported in my 2469,1 has been severely criticized and the paper is now permitted to appear again. The gagging of the press is resented everywhere. Conservative and clerical papers side with the Tageszeitung and deprecate the publication of evidently inspired articles like that in Lokal-Anzeiger, referred to in my 24262 and 2451,3 maintaining that this is a falsification of public opinion in Germany which does not want war with America but will not approve of any understanding with America at the cost of any concessions which would impair the efficiency of the submarines. The impression seems to prevail that the conciliatory articles originated in official circles and it is feared that they will weaken the position of the German negotiations.