The letters which von Papen carried are entertaining. The German
Consul at New Orleans in a letter dated December 4th, 1915, remarked that von Papen was probably not sorry to "shako the dust of this unfriendly country from off your feet" ! " What chiefly offends me," writes this paragon of ingenuousness, " is that in always giving way to the Government here we have never found that they are kindly disposed towards us " ! He hopes that the day of reckoning will come, and adds that "iron determination" is the only thing to make an impression on Americans. A letter from Dr. F. W. Meyer (December 19th, 1915) says that the Austrian Note has caused " quiet enjoy- ment," and that this time the President has " talked a bit too big." Dr. Meyer thanks von Papen for his " faithful vigilance," and hopes that any proposals von Papen may send in future will be such as can be discussed " with some gentleman of the German house of Columbia University "—a mysterious hint of crimes to come. General von Bemhardi complains of the " advertising manner, thoroughly American," in which two of his articles had been published in American papers. The American news- papers are much amused at von Paper's " incredible sim- plicity " in supposing that, because a safe-conduct was granted for his person, his incriminating documents were not subject to seizure.
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