Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-06-17
CAN GET No LINZ
ON GERMAN VIEW
OF WILSON NOTE
Indicated 1t Has Been Favor
ably Received In Official
Circles, But Press Holds
Kaiser Can't Yield.
THIS COUNTRY OPTIMISTIC
Some Diplomats Believe Way
Has Been Paved For Peace
Negotiations If Berlin
Is Willing.
THIS COUNTRY OPTIMISTIC

Washington, June 14.-Official Wash
ington today looked to Ambassador
Gerard in Berlin for some indication or
how the German government views the
American note to Germany concerning
her submarine warfare. Unofficial adj
vices received here said that officials
of the German foreign office were ia
miliarizing themselves with the con
tents and it was expected mere tlat
as soon as they had done so the am
bassador would send some definite m
formation.
1t was also said that Germany prob
ably would not give it's answer pend
ing the arrival of Meyer Gerhard, the
personal representative of Count Won
Bernstorff. the German ambassador to
Washington. From this it WAS con-
cluded that a reply would not be forth
coming for perhaps II fortnight.
Reports Are Conflicting.
There has been conflicting unof-
fetal information from Berlin. Dis
patches coming direct from there said
that some quarters regarded the note
as more conciliato7y than cable dis
patches had indicated. IN the other
hand dispatches received by way OF
London said Berlin was pesslrnlstlc re
garding the continued maintenance of
friendly relations with the United
States. German opinion, it was said
was unanimously against granting
the American demands for assurances
that American ships and lives would
not be endangered by submarine war
fare.
The following is Il London dispatch:
German opinion is unanimously
against granting President Wilson'S
demands for assurances that American
ships and lives will not be endangered
by submarine warfare, according to a
Berlin dispatch to the Exchange Tele-
49,, ~,
sterdam."
Washington Optimistic.
The feeling in Official circles in Wash
ington, however. continued optimistic
Close reading in diplomatic quarters
of the American note to Germany
brought out a variety of predictions
and views as to the manner in which
Germany would reply.
There was a general feeling of conf
dence. however. that Germany would
accept some of the several avenues of
approach ~purposely included in the
note by the American government. so
as to make possible a friendly settle
ment.
Much importance was attached to the
statement of the Willingness of the
United States to exercise its good of
fices as between the belligerents in any
attempt to come to an understanding
"by which the character and conditions
OF the war upon the sea may be
changed"
Foresee Peace Negotiations.
This. it was believed in many quar-
tiers. might result in n correspondence
that might ultimately lead to peace ne
gotiations. 1t was learned. too. that
copies of the American note to Ger
man had been cablcd to the American
embassies at London. Paris, Petrograd
and Rome for the information of the
ambassadors, and copies would be de-
posted with the respective foreign of.
fic@s at those capitals. This procedure
enables Great Britain to take cogniz-
ance of the virtual invitation OF the
United States to the belligerents to
make suggestions affecting martins
warfare. n it is suggested that out
of it may grow a modus vivendi. or
temporary arrangement. whereby the
rights of neutrals or belligerents would
not be given up during the progress of
the war. but changes effected so as to
mitigate the terrors of the conflict and
afford safety to nOncombatants and
neutrals on the high seas.