Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-15
US. DELAYS REPLY
T0C0MPL PLA|NT NOTE
No Answer to Bernstorf Memo
randum Until There Is "Cool-
ing Off Process"
GERARD WILL MAKE INQUIRY
State Department Takes Issue
With Statements Made by
German Ambassador.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.l ]

WASHINGTON. April 14-The United
states VIII not reply to the BcrnstorH
memorandum. which attacks the adj
mintstrations neutrality policy and
makes insinuations against the value
OF It's diplomacy, until there has been
Il cooling-of process In the country"
This was the information given out
Mt the State Department to-day. when
II was suggested that the declaration
or Count Won BernstorT. putting the
responsibility for the Objectionable
language of the memorandum on the
German government. had settled the
point which has served as an excuse
70 delay the American reply.
Despite the German ambassadors
declaration that he acted merely in
the capacity OF n messenger for his
government. tho State Department is
not disposed to frame n reply, II was
said. until definite assurances have
been received from Ambassador Gerard
mat the German government acknowl-
edSes run responsibility for the
phraseology as well as the substance
OF lie memorandum. By that time, It
was expected. the cooling off pro-
cess" In this country Will have oper-
ated sufficiently TO permit of Il strong
reply being forwarded to Germany
without danger of unduly disturbing
American calm.
TAKE SHARP ISSUE
WITH BERNSTORFF
State Department officials take sharp
issue with statements alleged to have
been made by Count Won Bernstorfr in
New York. In which he said that the
STATE department must have received
information that he intended to give
out the memorandum, and that he was
informed by reporter who had ap-
piled TO the State Depernment for the
memorandum. that 1t would have to
be obtained from the embassy"
The position OF the State Depa r,men,
is that II never gave any assent 10
the publication of the German memo
randum, and that IL had no communi-
cation with the German embassy on
the subject. The department officials
say that if they had any message to
send 70 the German embassy. 1t would
not have employed a reporter 10 con-
vcy It's message.
officials say the note was dated
april 1. Count Won BcrnstorfT said:
This memorandum was delivered to
the Department OF State on April 90
ambassadors statement rs to the time
of delivery with the date which the
note bears
DID NOT GIVE OUT
FORECAST on NOTE
The department received the memo
randum last Monday a week ago Be
Ing in German, II was sent to n trans
lator. The first translation was not
regarded as exact. and was sent back
ny the department 10 the translator
ana did not come back to the dcpart
incnt until Friday. ON Saturday morn
ing forecast OF the memorandum was
published. On Sunday il was an
nounced from the German embassy
mat the text would be given out on
sunday night. and that was done The
department. according TO its officials.
had no relation either to the giving
out OF the forecast or Of the actual
text published on Monday morning.
Secretary OF State Bryan discussed
the matter OF giving out the note
briefly to-day. He denied that the
German ambassador had been in
formed that the department had no
objection to the publication Of the Ger
man memorandum.
The fact that the first translation
or the note was regarded with some
doubt is said TO have been due to the
astounding things which the transla
ton revealed.
IL was, therefore, sent back. but II
is said that the second translation did
not differ materially from the first.