Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-02
GERMAN AMBASSADOR
CONFERS HALF AN HOUR
WITH THE PRESIDENT
Count Bernstorff Refuses
to Divulge Details Of
Talk - German Ameri-
can Crisis Discussed.
Concessions Possible.
WASHINGTON, June 2.

President Wilson saw German Ambassa.
dor Won Bernstorff today.
The two had 30-rulnvte talk together At
the white House. Two minutes before
Won Bernstorff left italian Ambassador
Cellere arrived to see the President. Con.
sidering the relations between their re.
spective countries It would have been III.
| tie short Of diplomatic tragedy had the
German and the italian met. White House
attendants were forced to do some lively
maneuverlng to get Won Bernstorff out BY
one route while Cellere entered by an.
other.
ENVOY SILENT.
No statement was issued from the
White House concerning the nature OF
tho Presidents and Won Bernstorff's talk.
Secret service agents prevented any one
from getting very close to the German
diplomat as he took his departure.
Nevertheless, the question was put to him
whether he had any statement to make.
In answer he shook his head.
1t was believed, however, that he told
the President substantially these things:
required of her in the way of reparatlon
wherever It is shown that she has in
frlnged on American rights.
That there must be an understanding
between the two nations concerning tho
conduct of unarmed and neutral vessels,
and that, based on such an understand.
ing, they can be fully protected. In keep
ing with the terms OF The Hague conven-
ton
That in the case of the Lusltania Ger
many has reason to believe in the sound
ness of her position with regard to that
vessels alleged defiance of the rules of
international warfare and the violation
OF an American statute concerning the
carrying of explosives, but that this issue
prevents no lnsurmountable obstacle,
provided a clear understanding can be
reached on the principles involved.
SUBMARINE POLICY.
The most sanguine scarcely expected
the German Ambassador to indicate his
Governments willingness to abandon
submarine warfare unless the United
States was in a position to compel Eng
land to abandon her starvation policy"
or unless England should do so without
compulslon by neutral nations, ncud-
ing the United States, whose right has
been violated by the British order in
council.
OF the effect of the Ambassadors rem
rssentatlons on the President there was
as yet no means of Judging, but guesses
on this point also were all much alike
The President, II was believed, might
have been led, II his visitors remarks
presented to his mind any ideas for maxi
ing German acquiescence easier, to adopt
them for use In connection with his next
communication to Berlin.
PRESIDENT STANDS PAT"
That there would be any backing
down." however. was understood to be
out of tho question. The President. 1t
was said. would stand pat" but he
would so express himself as to give the
Fatherland an opportunity to comply
with his wishes gracefully. 1t was the
consensus of opinion that the Berlin
Foreign Office would avail itself of this
chance.
From German societies throughout the
United States, 1t was said, large numbers
of messages were reaching the White
House in which, coupled with professions
of loyalty to America concerning whose
sincerity there could be no mistake, the
hope was expressed that the President
would bear in mind the life and death
character OF the struggle In which their
native land was engaged, take into con-
sideration the fact that, at such a time
intercourse even with its friends could be
carried on as smoothly as when the world
is at peace, and be as considerate as he
consistently could in the tone he adopts
in the pending discussion.
This. II was stated on high authority
the President had every disposition to do.