The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-07-10


States through Ambassador Gerard at
Berlin a tentative draft of its reply
TO the note Of June 8, which asked
Tor assurances that American rights
on the high seas would not be further
violated by German submarines.
After careful examination of the
contents of the proposed note as out
lined by Ambassador Gerard. which
coincide with Berlin press dispatches
OF the last few days. high officials are
practically agreed that the United
States can not without sacrificing i'm
portant neutral rights express its ap-
proval of the German proposals in
their present form.
The draft was shown to Ambassa-
dor Gerard with the idea of eliciting
from him an expression of opinion.
and he promptly asked for instruc-
tions from Washington as to whether
the United States souId make conces-
sions.
President Wilson has been advised
OF the situation in several long mes.
sages sent to his summer residence at
Cornish. N. H.. and the impression
obtained tonight from reliable quar-
ters was that the American govern
ment very probably would instruct its
AMBASSADOR within a day or two 10
decline to express any view until
after the formal reply is delivered to
him.
Just what Germany proposed has
not been officially divulged. Secretary
Lansing today took the position that
1t would not be proper for him u dis
close Germanys position as informal
iy reported by Mr.. Gerard without au-
thorization from the Berlin govern
ment He stated merely that there had
been no exchange Of views or in
formal negotiations between Germany
and the United States and declined to
predict whether there would be.
From Berlin dispatches and author.
itative sources here it Is learned. how
ever. that the note as drafted by the
German foreign office with Emperor
Williams subsequent approval would
give assurances that Americans
might travel with safety on the high
seas on certain conditions imposed by
Germany. such as the marking of bel
ligerent vessels carrying Americans
notification by the United States to
Germany Of the date Of departure
and character Of such vessels, and an
inspection insuring that they carried
no munitions Of war.
President Wilson has before him
the views of several cabinet officers,
some of whom believe it is essential
to have Ambassador Gerard make
clear to the German foreign office that
the United States can make no con-
cessions from it's position as based
on he accepted rules OF international
law and the naval prize codes of civil
led nations. Whether the president
does or does not finally decide to have
Ambassador Gerard tell the German
government informally the views of
the United States on the rought draft
submitted. 1t was clearly apparent to-
day that important changes would be
necessary In Germany's attitude be-
fore 1t could be reasonably hoped that
the formal reply would remove from
the negotiations the critical aspect
they have assumed.
One OF the messages from Ambas-
sador Gerard was somewhat garbled
In transmission and its meaning was
not clear. At first early in the day
II was believed by some officials that
the suggestions made might offer a
basis for negotiations. since 1t ap-
peared that Germany was endeav-
mg to ascertain in advance what the
opinion of the United States would be
so that the final draft would be GER
tain of acceptance.
This caused a feeling Of some op-
timism to be spread. but the arrival
OF additional messages from the am-
bassador indicated Germany was not
prepared to yield to the insistence of
the United States on It's rights under
international law but was disposed to
ask for compromises and concessions
involving surrender of some impor-
tant neutral rights.
The situation was not regarded by
any means IA hopeless because 1t
was believed In well informed quar-
ters that the mere fact Of submitting
to Ambassador Gerard tentative
draft or the German reply could be
construed as meaning that Germany