The world has become used to looking upon Hindenburg and Ludendorff as one; they belonged together.  Together they rose to highest power, to be forcibly separated in their fall.  In all business transactions Ludendorff was in the foreground.  He was a great speaker, but always in a sharp tone, suggestive of the Prussian military system.  It usually aroused a scene, but he seemed to take nothing amiss, and his anger vanished as rapidly as it broke out.  Hindenburg’s retiring modesty made him attractive.  Once when we were speaking of the photographers who besieged every conference in Berlin, the old gentleman remarked:  “I have lived to be seventy, and nobody ever thought there was anything wonderful about me; now they seem all at once to have discovered that I have such an interesting head.”  He was much more staid and quiet than Ludendorff, nor was he so sensitive to public opinion as the latter.  I remember once how Ludendorff, when I exhorted him to yield on the peace question, rejoined with vigour:  “The German people wishes for no peace of renunciation, and I do not intend to end by being pelted with stones.  The dynasty would never survive such a peace.”  The dynasty has departed, the stones have been thrown, and the peace of renunciation has become a reality, and is certainly more terrible than the gloomiest pessimist could ever have believed!

2

The rupture between America and Germany occurred on February 3, 1917.

The Ambassador, Count Tarnowski, remained in Washington, but was not received by Wilson, and had intercourse with Lansing only.  I still hoped to maintain these semi-official relations with America, in case America, in breaking off relations with Germany, might be content with that and not declare war on her.  The German Government would have preferred our breaking off diplomatic relations simultaneously with them.

On February 12 Count Wedel called on me, and his request and my settlement of it appear in the following telegram to Hohenlohe: 

  Vienna, Feb. 12, 1917.

    To notify Your Excellency.

  Count Wedel has been instructed to submit to me the following
  three requests from his Government: 

  (1) Count Tarnowski is not to hand over his credentials until the
        situation between Germany and America is clear.

  (2) Count Tarnowski must protest to Mr. Wilson against his having
        tried to make the neutrals turn against Germany.

  (3) On the outbreak of war with Germany Count Tarnowski must be
        recalled.

  I have refused the first two items and accepted the last.