South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-06-12
State Department at Work on
Note to Great Britain Seek
ing Change in Conduct of It's
Warfare Against Shipping.
GERMAN SITUATION IS
CLARIFIED BY NOTE
Difficulties with KaiSer'S Gov
ernment Are Now in Fair
Way of AmiCabIe Adjustment
Is General Belief.

WASHINGTON. June u. - The
United States and Germany are on
the way toward an amicahle and mu-
tualy honorable settlement of their
grave dlnerenceS. This was the ac-
cepJed view today in official ana Dip
lOmatc Washington.
Unofficial. but credible reports have
reached the capitol that the second
American note has been well received
IN Berlin, where the hrmness OF its
tone was not overlooked. but is was
noted that the document is not bonn
oastlc in tenor and shows the DISPOSE
ton OF this government TO come 10 a
reasonable basis OF agreement.
The reply OF the German foreign
Office TO the American note transmit
ted bwO days ago is not expected Tor
about two weeks, but there Is a no
uCeaDle increase in the optimism OF
government officials and the observ-
ant Washington public was noticeable
today. This more hopeful feeling ra-
gardlng the controversy. however.
was mixed with some concern as %
the Interpretation Germany and other
foreign countries may put upon the
propaganda sponsored by the retired
secretary Of state William Jennings
Bryan. The former premier has is
sued another statement explaining his
position, his latest appeal being ad-
dressed TO German Americans. who
are asked TO use their influence upon
the German government to persuade
it not To take any steps which may
I prove disastrous.
Bryan l. Criticised.
Because Of his recent utterances at
this critical period in the nations his
tory. AIr. Bryan has not escaped sc-
we're criticism and IL IS understood
that his activities at this time are not
wholly understood by, or pleasing 10
official Washington.
While Germany considers the Sec
lOnd American note, il became known
in official quarters that this govern
ment viii send 10 Great Britain and
her allies a note seeking a change IN
the conduct OF the bread blockade"
now conducted by them. II viii be
urged that such a blockade should be
conducted along the recognized prin-
ciples OF international law which for
bids destruction of ships with nom
cOntraband articles in transit 10 or
from a belligerent country through
contiguous neutral territory. or dCs-
tined 10 neutral ports. If headway
can be made with Great Britain il
viii relieve greatly the German situa-
tiOn, although ~ is not the purpose OF
the administration note 20 complicate
the two issues-One with Germany re-
gardlng the neutrality cf the seas and
the safety Of Americans. the other
with Great Tritain concerning her de-
tentiOn OF nOn-cOntraDanG snlpm merts.
Germany constantly hak sought 90
offer as an eXtenutating circumstance
in her submarine warfare the British
blockade, and while this government
viii not permit such plea 10 affect
the attitude announced after the Un-
doing Of the Lusitania, the Washing
ton administration nevertheless viii
seek To Impress on England that Il
does not approve OF persistent inter
ference with shipping.
Note l. Read Closely.
The American note TO Germany has
been read closely In diplomatic quar-
ters. There are q. variety OF predic-
tiOns as 10 the probable reply of Ger
many. but the general impression
seems 10 be that the note meets the
situation fully and yet leaves the way
open for "a settlement through Ciplo-
macy rather than sterner methods OF
the existing dificulties.
Reports, unofficial in character.
have been received from England that
the note il disappointing in a measure
10 Great Britain. but it IS suggested
IA this connection that the Bryan
resignation and refusal tONsiEn the
note because il might lead % war
with Germany caused the capitals OF
the allied nations 20 expect a prac-
tical ulumatum instead OF a note
founded on a vigorous and yet reas-
enable discussion Of the points in con-
hiCt between the United States and
the kaiseT's government
Embassies Get Copies.
Copies Of the American note have
been cabled the American embassies
In London. Paris. Petrograd and
Romo. This has the effect OF ar-
quaintinE these governments Of the
Willingness Of the United states 20
make friendly suggestions reearding
the subject ~ maritime warfare
which may bring about not only "a
modification OF the submarine policy
Of the Germans. but the blockade de-
cree of the allies.
The entire situation today was re-
garded here as more favorable than
IL has been for several weeks and the
extreme pessimism which prevailed
1 Immediately after the receipt of the
German reply 90 the first note. it be-
ing dissipated gradually.
TAKES PRISONERS To FARM.