Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-23
SEVERANCE OF DIPLOMATIC
RELATIONS is LOOKED FOR
Presidents Friends and Advisers
Unable to See How He Can Avoid
Taking Drastic Step.
EXTRA SESSION IS DOUBTFUL
Calling of Congress Would Be De-
pendent Upon Action of Imperial
Goyernment-.Frie of Peace"
Caution Executive.


Official announcement was
made at the White House to-
day that ''as soon as all the
facts regarding the Arabic are
ascertained our course of ac-
ton will be determined"
This official announcement
was given out by Secretary
Tumulty after conference
with President Wilson. Mr..
Tumulty said the statement
was all he was authorized to {.
say.
High officials today leaned
strongly to the view that the part
ing OF the ways between the United
States and Germany is close at
hand; virtually here, in fact.
In the light OF all the informa-
tion that is being received it was
impossible for the Presidents
warmest friends and closest ad-
yisers today to see how he will
avoid taking the drastic step that
has been regarded as possible
the severance of all diplomatic re-
1ations with the German govern
1nent, an announcement to the
world that the United States no
longer wishes to continue on
friendly terms with nation dis
regardful of all laws and OF. the
rights of humanity in general.
That the President will take no
backward step from the warnings
heretofore conveyed to the Ger
man government was everywhere
in official life today regarded as
certainty. Any thought of this
was instantly dismissed wherever
remote suggestion of that course
was made
Will Not Act Hastily.
1t was equally apparent that
the President will not permit him
self to be rushed to conclusion,
and that if he acts radically it
will be because the facts all before
him warrant his decision and be-
cause he feels sure that Ameri-
cans everywhere will stand by
him.
President Wilson has given up
Tor the present his plans 10 return
to his summer home at Cornish.
\. H., and will remain in Wash
ington. He had hoped to 60 to
Cornish late this week.
The President does not expect
to hold the usual cabinet meeting
tomorrow. All but three mem
bers are out of the city. A meet
ing will be held as soon as con-
elusive evidence about the sinking
OF the Arabic is received.
Silence Regarded as Significant.
The very silence at the White House
today was considered as token of a
determination that has not before been
shown in the relations of the admins
tration with the imperial government
OF Germany. In anticipation of a pro-
foundly serious step in the interna-
t!onal relations of this country with
another. the President waits. patiently
giving every moment of time necessary
to Investigate every phase of the Ara
bic disaster. From representatives of
this government In Great Britain he is
expecting all questions to be made
clear: from officials of the United
States at Berlin he is waiting for the
receipt of some word from the Berlin
government. report was rife today
that Germany is about to make apol-
ogy for the sinking of the Arabic but
there was no official veriication of
this: little hope. in fact, that it will
prove correct.
The basis for the prevailing opinion
today that the President will be COM
PEELED 20 denounce Germany to the
world is the belief that the thorough
sitting of the Arabic loss is going to
show that the German submarine com
mander had no justification for his act
beyond the German view that every
thing British that floats. animate or
1nanimate. 10 subject to destruction
that he gave no warning: that he was
not in danger of attack or about to be
in danger; and that the Arabic had
no armed escort at the time of her
sinking.
Possibility of Conflict Admitted.
The possibility Of conflict about the
matter is. of course. admitted. The
claims of the submarine commander are
(Continued on Ninth Page.)