Evening star., 1915-05-19
Us. TO GET REPLY
WITHIN Ten DAYS
Germany's Answer to Ameri-
can Demands Will Not Be
Complete for Week.
POSSIBLE PROPOSALS
FAVORABLY CONSIDERED
Embassy Here Not Informed That
Submarine Operations Will Be
Temporarily Suspended.

Official information was received here
today that Germany's reply TO the
American note manding reparation
for loss of American lives as result
of the sinking of the Lusitania and In
sistence on a guarantee for sarety OF
Americans hereafter will not be COM
pleted for at least a week, and prooa-
bly, will not reach Washington for ten
days.
1t is now known with some definite
ness that Germany wiz indicate her
Willingness to have the submarines act
toward all Jrerchantnn,sn just as de-
stroyers or cruisers wo~tS. giving am
pie time for passengers ana ere" 10
leave, provided merchantmen are uh-
armed or IL passengers and contra
band traffic are separated. That posi-
ton Is looked upon with some 1aVor
here, provided it is suggested as
modus vivendi or temporary arrange
ment and does not involve the relin-
ouishment by the United States of the
rights of it's citizens to travel any
where on the high seas on enemy OF
belligerent unarmed ships.
United States to Remain Firm.
There is an insistence on the part of
the United States. however. that the prin-
its note must be recognized and admitted
by Germany, and that any intention to
~.roy American lives on the Lusitania
must be disavowed. That the United
e.at... I'm s.and firmly on the principles
set 4tr'h q. M rfste- has bern conyrre.a
indirectly and informally to Germany
since the communication itself left here
Embassy Not Informed.
At the Germany embassy today no in
fc-r.atson could 90 obtained as to the
report printed in two New York morn
ing newspapers from a well informed
quarter in Washington. declaring that
orders suspending submarine opera
tions against merchant vessels have
been or will be issued by the German
government pending the outcome of ne
gotiations regarding the representa-
such information" has ever been OBJ
tanned at the embassy, the ambassador
said this morning, for the simple rea-
son. he declared. that he has not had a
subject.
Passenger Ships Safe.
There is little fear now that any
passenger ships will be torpedoed while
ress. for it was pointed out that since
the suggestions of the Austrian and
German embassies here that the sub
marine program be suspended had
reached Vienna and Berlin. there had
been no such attacks although many
opportunities apparently had presented
themselves.
Not only has the Austro-Italian sit
uation absorbed the attention of high
odfcials of the German government for
the moment, but in the event of Italy's
entrance into the conflict. cutting off
supplies from the Mediterranean, the
unwillingness of Germany to abandon
submarine warfare will become pro-
nounced.
Learns Italy Will Fight.
Such information as the United
States government recently has re-
ceived is of positive nature, indicat-
ing that Italy will soon enter the war.
though in Austro-German quarters here
there still is confidence that a break
will be averted
1t is realized that should Italy be-
come a belligerent Germany would lose
ALI hope OF securing foodstuffs or other
supplies through the Mediterranean,
and if Rumania followed Italy.s lead,
as predicted, the wheat supply from
southeastern Europe would be cut off,
In such circumstances of almost COM
p!ete isolation, it was explained in Dip
lomatic quarters, Germany would find
the submarine even more Invaluable a
weapon for reducing enemy supplies
aud commerce.
Position Of United States.
II was pointed out today in official
quarters that a careful reading of the
American note will reveal that while
the United States pointed out objec-
tions to the present method Of using
submarines as commerce destroyers.
the American government would have
no right and did not intend to ask
that submarines be abandoned as
weapon Of ofense II passengers and
crews of the ships encountered were
treated humanely. II was pointed out
that before the proclamation of a war
zone, as well as for long time after
ward, submarines were used effective
" by Germany TO destroy enemy com
lnerce and few lives were lost, none of
ihem neutral
Expect Conciliatory Reply.
In diplomatic quarters friendly to
Germany II 10 confidently believed that
the German reply to the United States