Cary T. Grayson Diary
Title
Cary T. Grayson Diary
Creator
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Identifier
WWP17074
Date
1919 February 21
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
FRIDAY.
Today the President had practically recovered from his cold and was able to go on deck. At luncheon at which Probert, Nevin and Bender were present, the President told the following interesting story which he attributed to French Ambassador Jusserand:
“I must confess that there is one phase of the German character now being displayed that puzzles me. It is hard to define. It is their utter servility. Just before we left Paris Ambassador Jusserand told me a typical incident which illustrates what I mean. It seems that the French after the armistice had been signed about six weeks sent several French Officers to Berlin to look after the French embassy there. Christmas Eve they were invited to a cafe to dine where the Germans were sitting around tables, eating, driking and listening to the music. There was no hostility in evidence anywhere. Finally, a lady came over to the table and, holding a wine glass in her hand, asked the officers to drink a toast to France. They told her they could not do so because they could not reciprocate. This of course, was a nice way to get out of an apparent difficulty. The lady retired in confusion but returned a few minutes later and said to the Officers: ‘Well if you can’t drink that toast will you not join me in a toast to Paris, the most beautiful city in the world.’ The officers naturally drank the toast. Now if this had been someone who wanted to curry favor I could understand it but this woman came from a far corner of the room and seemingly knew no one who knew these officers.”
Bender asked the President what Ambassador Jusserand thought about this, to which the President replied: “He thought it indicated German servility.”
Nevin asked the President whether he did not believe that this attitude was due to the fact that the commercial interests in Germany are now supreme and that it indicated they were willing to do anything to get back their former commercial supremacy. The President said he did not think this entirely explained it. It was then suggested that the present German attitude properly represented that of the ordinary bully after he had been licked. The President said: “Yes, brutality usually goes with servility when the brute gets the worst of it.”
Today the President had practically recovered from his cold and was able to go on deck. At luncheon at which Probert, Nevin and Bender were present, the President told the following interesting story which he attributed to French Ambassador Jusserand:
“I must confess that there is one phase of the German character now being displayed that puzzles me. It is hard to define. It is their utter servility. Just before we left Paris Ambassador Jusserand told me a typical incident which illustrates what I mean. It seems that the French after the armistice had been signed about six weeks sent several French Officers to Berlin to look after the French embassy there. Christmas Eve they were invited to a cafe to dine where the Germans were sitting around tables, eating, driking and listening to the music. There was no hostility in evidence anywhere. Finally, a lady came over to the table and, holding a wine glass in her hand, asked the officers to drink a toast to France. They told her they could not do so because they could not reciprocate. This of course, was a nice way to get out of an apparent difficulty. The lady retired in confusion but returned a few minutes later and said to the Officers: ‘Well if you can’t drink that toast will you not join me in a toast to Paris, the most beautiful city in the world.’ The officers naturally drank the toast. Now if this had been someone who wanted to curry favor I could understand it but this woman came from a far corner of the room and seemingly knew no one who knew these officers.”
Bender asked the President what Ambassador Jusserand thought about this, to which the President replied: “He thought it indicated German servility.”
Nevin asked the President whether he did not believe that this attitude was due to the fact that the commercial interests in Germany are now supreme and that it indicated they were willing to do anything to get back their former commercial supremacy. The President said he did not think this entirely explained it. It was then suggested that the present German attitude properly represented that of the ordinary bully after he had been licked. The President said: “Yes, brutality usually goes with servility when the brute gets the worst of it.”
Original Format
Diary
Files
Collection
Citation
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson Diary,” 1919 February 21, WWP17074, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.