Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-07-09
DISCUSSION MAY FOLLOW
Informed Suggestions Will be; En-
bodied in :Berlin's Answer

! Washington, July 9---Disappointej
| over the failure Of the United States
| to discuss informally its reply to
{ president Wilson's latest note, the
| German government will embody II
its note the suggestions previously
transmitted to President Wilson
through Ambassador Gerard.
] This, reply will lie handed to The
! Ambassador in Berlin today or to-
morrow snd transmitted Immediately
n this citv. 1t is admitted generally
hat the note is unsatisfactory, De
| ,ause. further, it endeavors to nave
;he United States nchfy Berlin OIL
all steamers that leave American
ports carrying American citizens TO-
| pether with the destination and pro-
bablc route. But officials are hope
: full that the reply can be made the
basis for further negotiations, anc
! that the situation would not become
critical.
Officials are said to realize that
Germany is being hard pressed at
oome through the agitation of the
military party, and this fact is eX'
pected to be taken into consideration
Nv the President in formulating the
next note. But it is stated in Admins
tration circles here that the President
has resolved, after careful consldera-
tion. that the United States, as the
.bief neutral nation of the world
cannot surrender single right under
international law. Because OF thlS'
# is said. he will demand that the
r;oht Of Americans to the freedom OF
the seas be accepted; that Germany
recognize her responsibility for the
loss or American lives when the Lust
tania was torpedoed; that If any ar
,anoement be made for notifying
Germany of departure of helligereht
passenger ships, it be participated
in bv all the belligerents and be only
for the war, and that Germany, ana
not the United States, assume res
possibility for carrying out the ViS'-
tation and search that is required hy
international law in the case OF YES
sells suspected of carryingg contrahanld.
The new German reply does no.
agree to any of the above suggestiohS
it. is said. 1t does, officials declare
open the door to consideration o.
most Of them. The President could
have discussed all these matters IN
formally. it is stated, but to haVs
done so in that manner would nave
established a precedent that might
nave proven dangerous later
# is understood that Count Vo"
Rernstorff has already conveyed /"
his government the information th"'
the unofficial suggestions OF Ger
manv are considered unsatisfactory
berc But it is also understood that
ae has received information tnat
"under. existing, conditions? Germany
.ould do no more.
incidentally officials point out th"'
the German attitude means cont'n"-
ad exchanges. between the two gov.
crnments. with the possibility Away"
nroeapt that a crisis may arise at
,nv lime. There is no attempt tooa:
to disguise the disappointment ON.
..;,ls feel over the fact that Derifi"'' J
h,s not been more conciliatory, al
though the hope is expressed tha'
the entire question finally will be Se'-
lied without diplomatic break.
Even though the present neeot'a-
t;ors fail il is stated, unless there Is
orotber fragrant violation of Amerl
ran rights there is little danger "'
=, omen break. All late reports IRON
tbe submarine war zone indicate tha'
tho German submarine commander
are endeavoring to ascertain the lae"'
I t;tv If all vessels before attacking
them. The fact that british snip
commanders try to escape when sig
nailed to stop makes the German ac'
tion in sinking their vessels legal un
:6er international law, it is asserte"
40 Miles Moonlight