Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-06-23
NOTE WAS CHANGED,
BRYAN DECLARES
NebraSkan Asserts Reply TO Ger
many Was SOftened.
ALTERATION is UNAVAILING
FORMER Secretary of State Declares
That He Could Not Reconsider
His Action-Change Made
Was Not Enough.

julie lf.-OHlCldI
UOuncement of the delivery of the
American note to the German govern
lment reiterating insistence that sub
marine warfare conform to the laws
of humanity and international law,
was received from Ambassador Gerard
at Berlin. The message came at the
close of a day marked by a more OPP
sLimistic feeling in official quarters that
the German answer would forestall
amy possibility of war between the ma
dions and also avoid breach of diplo-
matte relations.
Apparently there was a general re-
Taxation of tension in the international
situation. President Wilson let it be
known that later in the month he
planned to take a short vacation at his
summer home in Cornish, N. HI. No
answer to the American rejoinder is
expected for ten days at least, and
there is conviction here that the Ber-
lin authorities will await the arrival
there of Meyer Gerhard, official repre-
sentative of Ambassador Won Bern
;storff, before their answer is framed.
Says Note Was Changed.
Former Secretary of State Bryan,
who resigned his portfolio rather than
sign TIE second note to Germany, is
sued another statement declaring
that the note was materially revised
following the presentation of his res
.Ignation The revision, Mr.. Bryan
;averred, softened the note but was
not sufficient to justify him in with
drawing his resignation.
ct is true" said Mr. Bryan, that l
saw the final draft of the note just be-
Tore my resignation took effect, but it
contained an important change. l had
mo knowledge of this change at the
time my resignation was rendered and
accepted.
This change, while very much soft
eening the note, was not, however, suf
1dcient, in my judgment, to justify me
rs asking permission to withdraw my
resignation. AS Germany had suggest
ed arbitration / felt that we could not
TO less than reply to this offer by ex-
pressing a willingness to apply the
principle OF the peace treaties to the
case
What was the change in the note?"
Mr. Bryan was asked.
81 cannot discuss that" he replied.
Refuses to Tell.
1t was suggested that the clause
;added to the note was that saying the
UNITED States would entertain any evil
tdeDce Germany might have that Off
scials of this government had not thor
s0ughly performed their duty in ex-
;amining the LusitaIla before it's de-
lparture to see that it was not armed
1For offensive action. Mr.. Bryan only
tsmiied at the suggestion.
Secretary Lansing also declined to
discuss changes made in the note.
The clause referred to follows:
'.If the imperial German government
t0f convincing evidence that the Off
seials of the government of the United
Estates did not perform these duties
with thOroughness, the government of
the United States sincerely hopes that
st viii submit that evidence for consid-
ssratiOn."
irrespective of whether that clause
;asked, docs it not open the way for
further negotiations with Germany"
81 can only reiterate what | have
ssaid that the note was softened," Mr.
Bryan replies, but not sufficiently to
Justify me in asking permission to
Withdraw my resignation
Still Sees Risks.
mo one will be happier than l."
said Mr.. Bryan, IF the presidents plan
results in a peaceful settlement but
mo one was in a position to say what
effect our note would have upon Ger
many or what result would follow if
sshe, in anger, broke off diplomatic re-
;tatiOns, and / was not only unwilling
40 assume the responsibility for the
risks incurred-risks which no one
with any degree of accuracy, measure
but i felt that, having done all l
sEOuld in the cabinet. it was my duty
20 undertake, outside the cabinet, the
duty upon which / have entered. l
ShaVe no doubt that the country will
during the war, if so great misfor-
sEune should oVertake us. but 1 believe
sEhat the chances of war Will be les
ssened in proportion as the country ex-
presses itself in favor of peace-not
peace at any price'-but peace in pref
Serence to war waged for the redress
nj such grievances as we have against
sGermany-at least against war until
I'VE have given TO Germany the oppor-
yEunity to which we are pledged to give
Great Britain, France and Russia-to
nave every difference of every char
,acter submitted to an international
commission of investigation"
The former secretary, with Mrs.
bryan, left for Old Point Comfort to
tremain until Tuesday. Upon his re-
t5urn Mr.. Bryan expects to announce
Tnis plans for the immediate future.
Lansinu Explains.