Evening journal., 1915-06-05
BY LOWELL MELLETT
United Press star corrcspondent

lulitN ilth0 NldN AuIIAnlonutllls
WASHINGTON. June 5.-The most
important diplomatic paper since the
European war began should reach the
United States about June 20. II Will
be the German reply to President
Wilson's latest note. It's Importance
will be derived from the fact that 1t
viii be the first definite step, not
merely toward preserving peace he
tween the United States and Germany,
but towards ending the conflict that
has ragged in Europe since August.
This was the opinion In German
diplomatic circles today and II was
shared by other diplomats.
The expected lapse of time between
the sending Of the American note and
the receipt OF the reply will be due to
the fact that Germany will await the
arrival OF Anton Meyer-Gorhard. en-
voy from Ambassador Bornstorn TO
the foreign office before preparing a
reply Gerhard should reach Copen-
hagen June 10 and Berlin about II
hours later. Five days is little enough
time for him to accomplish his pur-
pose. it IS explained.
When the news arrives, Il Us de-
clared Il will mark the point--reach-
ed In all great wars-whe-e diplo-
macy begins to take hold and force
begins TO. let 20. Up TO the present,
through ten months of devastating
warfare, diplomacy has not accom-
plished a single damn thing
The quoted language is that of a
diplomat who shares i'm the belief that
the answer from Berlin means a mo-
mentous change in the situation. The
circle of warfare has constantly Wild
ened. one nation after another being
drawn In, as diplomacy failed to pre-
vent, Italy being the last to be caught
in the swirl.
But always there comes a time for
change and IN the European war;
the time Is right now, IL appears If
diplomacy secures a holland Ger
mans are confident Il will-its import
ance will increase rapidly until the
beginning OF the final negotiations ne
cessary to bring an end to the fight
ing
Germany's view, unoficially express
ed. is that she has won. BY this she
means that she has stopped all her
antagonists. has demonstrated that
she cannot be crushed and her battle
lines--for the most part on foreign
soil-cannot be thrown back. She
feels that she Is lighting. more than
anything else, for freedom Of COM
merce and Il rs her view that Amer
ica. If drawn into the struggle. would
| be drawn by that same desire-free-
dom Of the seas. The warning ma
tions being at a standstill she thinks
negotiations may soon be under way
and there arises the need for a medi-
/ ator
The obvious mediator from the Ger
man view. is the United States not
| alone because this country is the
single world power not involved, but
/ because the United States is held to
/ be chiefly concerned about the same
principle as Germany-the freedom of
the seas, so Germany could feel safe
in resting her case with this country
ON that point. at least
Germany, it appears, expects to de-
mand indemnity from Belgium and
from France for the territory occu-
pied and hopes to restore the Polish
kingdom, matters tremendously inn
portant. but aside from the present
situation between this country and
Germany.
Friends Of Count Won Bernstorff
who resent criticism of him on the
ground that he should not have de
layed acting as long as he did, while
conceding his activities of the pas
few days. are greatly to be commend
ed, say that the ambassador did the
only thing possible for him to do
waited for the right moment-whicf
the Lusitanla incident made, by To-
cussing attention on that one ques
tion. The Ambassador, his friends
say, stepped into the breach at a time
when he could get a hearing above
the wars din. They think action has
been energetic and 10 the point as
witness the dropping of the usual
methods Of communication with his
home government TO make use of the
state departments facilities and the
dispatching of a personal messenger