The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-03
BERLIN AWAITS THE REPLY ID NOTE WITH CALM EXPECTANCY Little Trustworthy Indica- tions of American Attitude
 Available in Germany SUSPECT REPORTS
 THROUGH ENGLAND Their Contradictory Nature h. creases Distrust-Foreign Office
 Unable to Cope With
 Firebrand Press

Berlin, June 2.-(via London, June B. 4:04 a. m.)-Government officials and the general public are waiting with calm ex- pectancy upon the American develop raents in the exchanges of notes be- tween Germany and the United States re- specting the Lustana, expectancy which is deepened by the fact that no trust worthy indications regarding the Ameri- can attitude on the German answer are available here.
 The German foreign office is unable to communicate with Count Won Bernstorff, the ambassador at Washington, except by wireless in plain language and even this mode of communication is uncertain during periods when the static conditions of the atmosphere ae unfavorable.
 Reports which the newspapers print are regarded with suspicion not only be- cause they come exclusively through British channels but on account of their contradictory character.
 One set of reports intimate that the German counter-proposals have been found to harmonize with MT. Bryan's plan of providing for a period of investi- gation in cases of international conflict, while advices reproduce various American editorials, declaring that the German note is utterly unacceptable and demanding that steps of varying degrees of aggres- sveness be taken.
 Abusive Articles Written While waiting the time is being utilized by some of the more aggressive German newspapers and writers of the type of Reventlow to launch abusive articles against the United States and President Wilson's policy, but the press and public generally seem desirous to avoid any thing which might increase the tension between the two governments while the German note is under consideration. In i this they are acting in complete accord with the foreign office, which apparently is sincerely anxious to preserve friendly relations with the United States and deprecates any publication which would tend to inflame feeling either in Germany 1T America.
 There seems to be no doubt that the foreign office would rejoice at a solution consistent with German interests and it IS considered here that one of the un- fortunate incidents of the situation is the inability of the foreign office to cope with the chronic firebrands of the press. Count Won Reventlow's contribution to the Tages Zeitung today is a violent com n1entary on stories of the existence of d working agreement between the United states and Great Britain supported by alleged citations from a book on Pan Germanism by Prof. Roland G. Usher of St. Louis. He quotes Professor Usher as announcing the existence in 1897 of d secret agreement on the part of the Uni ted States with Great Britain, France and Russia for joint action against Germany which agreement, he says, still exists. He urges, therefore, against the slightest con eession on the part of Germany as harm full
 LOkal Anzieger's Comment
 The Lokal Anzeiger commenting on London dispatches regarding the forth coming note from President Wilson says;
 We can calmly wait and see whether President Wilson follows Reuters friendly advice. If he is really of the opinion that consideration for humanity in this case was disregarded by Germany and not by the Cunard line, which embarked many passengers on a steamer loaded with war munitions, then all further discussion IS superfluous. So, too, if he should charac- terize the thousands of cases of shells and shrapnel as a small quantity of am- munition, a characterization which would apply only if it compared with the total consumption of the allies, or their enor- nous orders in the United States.
 ''The head of the American nation how ever, probably will not act according to Reuters dictation. Reuter-, in any case, will wait vainly for an acknowledgment by the German government that wrong was committed in sinking the Lusitania, and we shall continue our submarine war fare as Germany's vital interests may re- Cilira