Walter Hines Page to Robert Lansing

London, Dated Oct. 11, 1917, Recd. 12th, 2.40 a.M.7402, Oct. 11, 11 p.M.For Harrison from Bell:

"CONFIDENTIAL. My 7269, September 27, 2 p.M."

The two following telegrams may be helpful to the Department in dealing with Hearst and Hale and may be published if you desire. Like all Bernstorff's cables they went through Luxburg and Stockholm."First reads: 'Number 45 A, June 2nd, 1916. In conformity with Your Excellency's wish, I suggest that the present is a favorable time to get Hearst to send a first rate journalist to Berlin. The man selected W. B. Hale has been as Your Excellency knows since the beginning of the war a confidential agent of the Embassy and as such he has been bound by contract until June 23rd, 1918. In making this arrangement the main idea was that Hale would be the most suitable man to start the reorganization of the news service after peace on the right lines. I request that full confidence may be accorded to Hale who will bring with him a letter of recommendation from me to Doctor Hamman. Hearst is not aware that Hale is our agent but knows him only as a Germanophil journalist who has contributed leading articles to his papers. Signed Bernstorff'."Second reads: 'Number 46, June 5th., 1916, in continuance of previous telegram. As Hale tells me and Hearst confirms, the latter is rather hurt that on Wiegand's account THE WORLD gets all the important Berlin interviews. I recommend that under suitable circumstances Hale should for obvious reasons be given preference as Hearst's organs have during the course of the war always placed themselves outspokenly on our side. Signed Bernstorff.'"

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