The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-05-15
Germany Expected to Dis
continue Submarine At
tacks If Passenger Boats
Do Not Garry Arms.
SITUATION IMPROVES
Unofficial Text Reaches Ber-
lin Before Wilson's Note Is
Handed Foreign Office of
Germany.

WASHINGTON, May 15.-Up to Z
o'clock last night the presidents note
to Germany had not officially reached
Berlin. Notification to this effect
reached the state department from Am
bassador Gerad today. The congestion
of the telegraph lines from Rome to
Berlin is said to be responsible. The
state department learned that the note
had been sent from Rome at 3:45
O'Clock yesterday.
Efforts are being made to discover
at what point the transmission of the
communication has been held up. 1t
is certain that the text of the note will
reach Berlin through Copenhagen from
England before the official version
can be delivered to the German foreign
office
The secretary of state was extreme
ly anxious to delay the publication of
the note in this country eighteen hours
after it was sent in order to make sure
that the first intimation Of the purport
of the presidents message received in
Berlin would be through official chan
nels.
Speculate on Reply.
With the publication of the text of
the presidents note to Germany de-
manding that submarine attacks on
neutral shipping be stopped. official
Washington turned its attention to the
probable contents of the German reply
With the realization that this gov
ernment's action is now irrevocable
and committing the United States be-
fore the world. a feeling of relief was
evidenced in all official quarters. 1t is
appreciated that Germany's reply can
hardly be looked for within shorter
period than week.
Probable Offer.
Counter proposals which Germany
may make to the United States are be
ing widely discussed in Washington to
day.
The proposal which is receiving
greater consideration in responsible
quarters is that Germany will agree te
discontinue her submarine attacks or
beligerent merchantmen provided the
United States refuses to allow any
passenger ships leaving American
shores to carry munitions Of war. This
proposal might appear to the Ameri
can government a reasonable one anC
might become the basis of an agree
ment between the United States anc
Germany
1t is pointed out that Great Britain
could not reasonably object to thi:
course of action on the part of the
United States without alternating
sympathy for the cause of the allies.
| Situation Improves.
The situation looks much better to
day than it did yesterday" said {
prominent government official today
Il do not think that Germany will re
! ject the American demand in toto, bu
will send reply that will make ia
vorable impression on the American
public"
The attitude of Germany seems tt
| be one of not taking seriously the ex
alted appeal of President Wilson OF
the grounds of humanity and civiliza
tion. The German notion seems to bs
that such portions of the note can bs
disregarded and the matter reduced tt
business basis. Notice has been ia
ken in German quarters of the expires
sions by public men in this country tt
the effect that Americans really ough
not to have embarked on the Lusita
mia, and the belief seems to exist tha
by appealing ito this view held b,
many Americans the real issues and (
| break will be avoided.