The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-07-05
MYSTERY Wells !.
GERMANY'SDELAY
Berlin Will Take at Least An
other Week to Answer
Wilson's Latest Note.
REASON UNKNOWN HERE
Officials Expect that Reply Will Be
Lengthy and Argu-
mentatve.
REASON UNKNOWN HERE

Reports from Berlin. published here
yesterday. that the German government
has decided to take al least another
week to answer President Wilson S last
note on the submarine issue. caused sur
prise in official quarters here. officials
had been led to expect the note in day
Or so.
Though it Is stated in the published
dispatches that Ambassador Gerard mas
cabled Washington of the reasons for
the unexpected delay, State Department
officials said last night nothing had been
received from him on the subject in the
last few days. This is not thought par
ticularly strange, however, as usually
two days are required for Gerard's mes
sages to Washington to come through
from Berlin.
Cause of Delay Unknown.
What new circumstance has arisen to
cause the German government to- delay
its reply further is not known here. Or
ficials here know of nothing new in the
submarine situation with the exception
of the Armenian case, and. so far as
the State Department is now informed,
it does not appear likely that that case
will figure very largely in the issue with
Germany
While there is every disposition here
to do anything or accept anything which
will minimize the danger of break be
tween the two governments without any
sacrifice of the honor of the United
States, II is felt that the German gov
eminent is certainly most leisurely in re-
spending to the Presidents demands.
More than six weeks ago President VIII
son called upon Germany for prompt
action" when he sent the note following
the Lusitania case. Germany responded
oh mot
issue at ALL The United States then
sent another note, which was dispatched
on June 9, or nearly a month ago, to
which there has been no reply. Officials
feel that for Germany to talk now OF
further delay in meeting an issue which
has been before her for two months is
not particularly promising or respectful.
Lengthy Reply Expected.
While the impression here is strong
that the German submarin issue is no
longer one OF great danger to the friendly
relations between the two governments,
unless there is another case of wholly
unjustifiable attack on American life,
this impression does not rest on the basis
of any expectation that the German reply,
v hen it comes. will meet the Presidents
Demands. 1t is expected rather that the
I'crman note will be argumentative and
!,.ngthy with number of proposals
itch will call forth another note from
this government.
From reports received here through va
: cu!s sources the conclusion has been
reached that the following paragraph.
Contained in a recent interview with
t'nunt Won Reventlow the German naval
y liter. indicates what is to be expected
-. Germany:
I'VE are ready 10 make any agreement
il submarine warfare which does not
Effect the form. restrain the energy or
Tend to destroy the effectiveness of this
hrauch of the naval war"
Ambassador Page at London cabled the
state Department Yesterday that all the
loss of life on the Armenian. the ship
that vas torpedocd by the German sub
marine I--3S was due to the Smelling
II the steamer. About twenty-one Amer
lean members of the crew were lost Mr..
Page also informed the depa rtment Off
cially that the vessel had been warned
to stop and continued to Try to escape.