The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-04-15
Think Ambassador Is Deliber'
ately Engaged In Trying to
Foment Public Sentiment
Against Administration.
QUOTED PRESIDENT WILSON
Representative Stepped Outside
Bounds of Diplomatic Pro-
priety When he Gave Out
Neutrality Statement.

Washington, ID. c., April 13.-Publica-
ton, at the instance of Ambassador
Won Bernstorff, of the text of the Ger.
man note protesting against shipment
OF arms from this country and charg'
ing violation of the real spirit of neu-
trality," and going so far as to quote
President Wilson with the object OF
trying to show inconsistency, has deep
ened the feeling here that the German
government is deliberately engaged In
trying to foment public sentiment In
the United States against the admin
lstration.
Coming on the heels of the remark
able statement given out in the Oden-
valid case, charging that the Odenwald
was a victim of an attack" by the
guns Of this country, the note has
caused both wonderment as to the mo-
tives that lie Jack of 1t and astonish-
ment at its tone.
Further than that, there is a feeling
of resentment among administration
leaders here, though they are preserv-
Ing, as far as possible, a calm attitude
in the face of what is looked on as
Bernstorffs effrontery.
IT, Would Recall Him.
When the Odenwald statement was
made public, from he German embas-
sy, there was much gossip that the re-
call Of the German ambassador would
be quietly suggested to Berlin by those
familiar with the ways of diplomacy.
The publication of the new note has
much strengthened that gossip.
II Is perfectly we'll known to official
Washington and to the state depart
ment that, for reasons less offensive,
diplomats have been recalled in the
past. II Bernstorff Is permitted to re-
main 1t will only be through a course
BY the administration, which is singu-
tarly forbearing. 49,
The German ambassador, in quoting
The president as he did, unquestion-
ably was aware that ne was stepping
outside the bounds of diplomatic pro-
priety. The state department did not
zee fit to give out the note and that
the German embassy Should have done
30 seems to point clearly to the fact
hat an effort Is being made to spread
propaganda hostile to the curse Of this
baton.
Will Not Discuss II.
" Both at the White House and the
state department today there was ex-
treme reticence with respect to the Ger
man note. Not a word was given out
at the White House, and all Secretary
Bryan would ga was that the note was
under consideration" Little question
Is raised here that this government
will make a vigorous reply: on the
other hand there were some most diff
hcult n embarrassing phases of the
matter to be considered. Chief of
these Is the fact Ambassador Won Bern
storff is a man of sue high standing
with his government hat he cannot
be presumed to be speaking or acting
without the knowledge and backing Of
his government n hat this being so,
1t raises the presumption hat the Ger
man government is deliberately trying
to embarrass the Wilson adminlstra-
ton an0 undertake. a DuDIlcltV cam
paign to injure ii.
In some well advised quarters the
question seriously asked is whether
Germany Is seeking q breach Of rela-
tions with America. Almost unthink-
able as this might seem, President Will
son. none of his advisers feel, has the
opportunity to come out squarely and
make 1t plain the time a come when
such diplomatic affrouting as the Ger
man embassy is guilty of must com
to a halt.
That this would. carry public senti-
ment with 1t in the United States can
not be doubted. But whether the pres
ident will do this or will choose to pur-
sue q milder course is something which
is not yet asceTtainablc.
German embassy officials stated to-
day that the ambassador acted upon
instructions from the Berlin foreign Of
flee in presenting the recent note or
memorandum to the state department,
complaining hat while the United
States had failed to maintain its right
to export food stuffS to Germany,
American manufacturers were per-
mitted to continue shipping munitions
Of war in unlimited quantities to
Great Britain n her allies.
The memorandum delivered some
days ago, was made public last night
by the ambassador.
Nevertheless widespread talk is cur"
1000 wa tho fnrrin0 statement nf the
German embassy apropos of the Oden-
WaId and over such other incidents as
the barring Of Clifford PinChot from
Belgium, the recall of American mill
tary observers, and GeTmany's effort 10
avoid all responsibility for the death OF
Leon c. T~hrasher, on the steamer
Falaba. n the like.
The German embaSsy's OdenWald
statement is n flat dispute of the facts
as understood here. The wal depart
ment's original statement embodyinS
the report Of Lieutenant Colonel Burn
ham. at San Juan, said warning shots
were fired with q machine gun. Assis-
tant Secretary Peters. of the treasury
department, said warning shots were
fired. Lieutenant Colonel Bufnham
reported that after the warning shots,
there was a shot across the bow OF the
Odenwald by one of the rve-lnch guns
of MORO Castle.
Given Ample Warning.
That the Odcnwald was given ample
warning and was treated with all con
sideration is asserted by treasury Of
fcials. without commenting on the
tone of the German statement, they set
forth the facts and indicate they are
not at all as stated by the German en-
bassy. The Odenwald was twice in
spected. and no objection was found to
giving clearance. The first inspection
was on a Thursday, to find out II arms
or ammunition were on board. This
inspection was satisfactory. Then the
treasury asked that IT be ascertained
whether there were gun emplacements
or other arrangements for the apparent
purpose of converting the vessel TO a
man Of war at sea. This inspection was
satisfactory.
The Odenwald went on putting on
coal and provisions, the treasury, -