The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-07-14
REACHES CRITICAL POINT.
CRISIS IN RELATIONS BETWEEN
UNITED STATES AND GER
MANY.
Week Will be Consumed i'm Careful
Persual OF Official Note and Confer.
ence Between Wilson and Lansing
Officials Will Try to Avoid Forcing
Situation. 80. ...'-., ..

HeTHhdny reply 10 the american note
on submarine warfare strengthens the
conviction of high officials that a
critical point in the relations between
the two countries has been reached,
it was said here tonight. , 3 p.
Not only do officials feel the United
States must refuse to accept German
proposals for the future conduct of
American citizens on the high seas, it
was declared, but the failure of Ger
many to disavow the sinking of the
Lusitania with the loss Of American
lives in their view, has brought on a
crisis.
sThat there will be no action by the
United States for at least another
week was indicated today Several
days will be required to measure fully
the consequences and responsibilities
the American government will incur
in forming policy to meet the situ-
alton. Secretary Lansing probably
will 60 to Cornish, N. H., within a
day or two to confer with President
Wilson. He said tonight he would
study the note carefully and then
communicate with the pr~ ~~ident.
Count Won Bernstorff, the German
ambassador, intends to call on Secre-
tary Lansing during the week to learn
informally whether he can be Of any
service in the situation.
Today the official text of the Ger
man reply arrived and was made pub
lie. 1t differed only in unimportant
words from the Associated Press copy
which came from Berlin Friday night.
In all quarters here the reply was
the single topic Of concern. What
the action of the American govern
ment will be is doubtful largely In
the sense that the means Of express
ing the ideas and purposes C. of the
United States have not been decided.
1t was inicated authoritatively that
obviously there would be no surrender
OF American rights and no acceptance
OF the German proposal to guarantee
immunity to American ships under ar
rangements to be agreed on by naval
authorities of the two countries.
There is no intention from indi-
cations from official quarters to force
situation but in whatever policy is
followed the American endeavor will
be to place full responsibility on Ger
many for any possible rupture in
friendly relations Since the Lusitania
was sunk May there has been no
violation Of the principles. for which
the United States has contended un-
less the mishap to the Nebraskan can
be included and in that case the
Washington government has not final
ly reached q conclusion as to whether
mine or torpedo caused the ex-
plosion. In the view of many off,
cials. should German submarine COM
manders continue in practice to re-
spect American rights, discussion
could continue. There were intima-
tions. however, hat in the next COM
munication the United States likely
would impress on Germany the seri-
Gus consequences that would. ensue
from any further violation of Amer
lean rights as proclaimed in notes al
ready sent. g..
The chief obstacle, it appears, to
permitting virtually a status quo to
continue while further notes are ex-
changed is the treatment which Ger
many has given to the Lusitanfa case.
lT' " United States has asked for dis
avowal Of intent to kill Americans
and for reparation. although the lat
ter has been subordinated to the
greater consideration of whether Ger
many legally justifes the action of
the submarine commander or will ad-
NIT liability. No direct answer on
the questions of law involved was
given in the last note and the sink
Ing of the vessel was attributed to
peculiar circumstances such as the
presence Of hiah explosives" High
officials regard this as an evasion.
Opinion in German quarters here is
much the same as that which has
been reflected in press comment from
Berlin. Count Won Bernstorff, the
German ambassador. is satisfied with
the reply and thinks it offers q basis
for negotiations.
| with the United States as active
champion for the cause OF neutral,
rights, German officials say they fore
see an amicable understanding
eventually on the question OF free