South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-05-19
Entrance of New Enemy Into
War Likely to Have Great
Effect of Tenor of KaiSer'S
Reply to Wilson's Note.
AMERICAS ATTITUDE TO
BRITAIN ALSO FACTOR
Indication That Government
viii Insist on Freedom from
Violation by English Will
Lessen Tension.

WASHINGTON. May 19.-The state
department has been informed that
Germany viii not Immediately reply
10 Pres't Wilson's note demanding that
she cease her submarine warfare on
unarmed merchantmen.
Sec'y Bryan announced today that
this word had come TO the department
and he construed IT as meaning that
The German reply would not be ready
until some days from now.
The secretary declined to discuss the
report that q note to Great Britain
protesting against British violations Of
international law by the detention Of
American ships and CargOeS was soon
TO be forwarded TO London. He said
that no general discussion of the de-
tent1On Of American cargOes in British
ports had taken place between himself
and British representatives He would
not comment on the suggestion that
the German reply probably would be
delayed until the note from the United
states government TO the British gov
ernment had been made public.
Sec'y Bryan denied that the state
department had cabled an inquiry to
Ambassador Gerard in Berlin con
Cerning the report that the Frye case
was 10 be taken up by a prize court.
The United states government re-
Gently protested 20 the German gov
ernment against the handling Of this
case in "a prize court and suggested
that II it could not be dealt with by
diplomatic negotiations in Berlin it
could be settled 10y the state depart
ment and the German ambassador in
Washington.
SAY Notice Has Come.
Despite Secy BTyan's diSavOwal
other high officials in the department
stated that the dispatch announcing
that the Frye case had been called for
trial in the prize court, had been re-
ceived
II was admitted also that inquiry
had been made in Berlin as to whether
the calling of the case In court was
meant as an answer TO the American
protest against such action.
In the office of the counsellor Of the
department it was considered unlikely
that Germany h~' meant to reply to
the American protest in this way.
May Accede Temporarily.
Reports were I'm circulation here
hat during this wait Germany would
cease her submarine warfare, es-
pecially on passenger ships. but these
reports so far lack confirmation in
official circles. While it is not be
lieved that Germany i'm the present
crisis deliberately would torpedo an
other vessel carrying many American
passengers it is realized that If the
Germans felt sure such "a vessel car
ried contraband of war for the allies,
there would be a strong temptation
20 destroy it-pOssibly after more
warning than was given the Lusitania.
That Germany will delay her reply
10 the Wilson note Is regarded as Ger
tain here for two reasons.
First-If Italy enters the war. the
kaiser would be confronted with an
entirely new military situation in
Volving cutting of Of supplies through
the Mediterranean and hurting a big
Italian army and navy into the war
pit
reveal whether the United states is
preparing a protest 10 the allies on
the interference largely by Great
Britain with American commerce he
tween this country and the neutral
ports OF Europe The report that this
government has in contemplation the
transmission of a strong note OF pro-
test 10 Great Britain Is given cred
ence here
Note Would soften Situation.
4 note from this government 10
Great Britain seeking a modincauon
OF the order in council 10 IS believed,
would convince the German govern
ment that the United states Is de-
termined 10 be equally insistent upon
the respect of its shipping rights by
Great Britain as by Germany. such
an impression would have a softening
effect in the present crisis. diplomats
believe
Unless there should be such an inn
preston iu Germany. the general be
lief here is that the kaiser's govern
ment VIII not yield 20 the demands
made in the presidents note and dip
lomats expect counter proposals may
pTolong the negotiations for some
weeks
Principal interest TODAY. however.
centered in the Italian situation and
the effect Il may have upon the