The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1915-05-15
Specula<S<or TO How Message Will
Be Received &c. - Answered in
Four Ways BY Nv.
YES" OR mo" TO BE REPLY
French and English Press Says That
Kaiser Will Refuse Propositions
Set Forth in Document.
Berlin, May 15.-American
Ambassador Gerard presented
the American note to the German
department of foreign affairs
here at 1890 this morning.
(United Preps)

Omitted Press)
Washington, May l5.-AlthOugh
he has not been officially advised
William J. Bryan, secretary Of state,
is convinced that the American note
to Germany will reach the Berlin gov:
eminent this afternoon although it
has been delayed in transmission.
President Wilson is on the Mayfower,
and he has made no statement con-
corning the situation.
Leading papers of France and Eng
land say that Germany will refuse to
comply with the message and Will
sons demands to abandon or substan-
TALLY change it's methods of submar-
inc warfare. This is believed to in
dictate that the allies are hoping for
a break between Germany and the
United States.
1t is believed that there will not
be a long discussion and the pres
ident expects that the answer will be
"yes" or mo-"
Topic of Day.
Official Washington discussed little
outside Of the note today. PRACTICE
ally a unanimous approval was given
it in the editorial columns of the
American press and statements Of
governors, senators and congressman,
which were reinforced by a constant
stream of messages from persons Of
every political party and from a va
riety of organizations.
Wilson said he was deeply grateful
and appreciated the patriotic sup
port given him on every side. :
There will probably be no further
developmenta:in the situation until
there is some intimation from Ger
many as to how the German officials
regard the tone of the requests of the
note. Last night the president left
on the Mayflower with his family for
a trip to New York, where he will re-
view the Atlantic fleet.
There is wide discussion of the note
in diplomatic quarters. The allied
and neutral ENJOYS are unanimous in
approval. .
Embassy Silent.
The German embassy remains ST.
lent. While German Ambassador
Bernstorff declined to discuss his own
views for publication, some of his
friends indicate the ambassador is
pleased with the friendly tone of the
note, and was hopeful and confident
that the question in dispute could be
satisfactorily settled through a diplo-
matte way.
Four Ways to Reply.
Discussing the question, "How Ger
many may reply" James Gray in a
Washington dispatch, says Germany
may reply to President Wilson's note
in one of the following ways:
F'irst-That~ President Wilson is
mistaken as to the facts in regard to
the Gullight and Lusitania; that lie
has strained international law, and
that he should be willing to give fur
Their consideration to the problems
involved.
Second-She may acknowledge that
the loss of life on the Lusitania was
as g%rievous a surprise to her as it
vas to America, may renew her r
grets and offer to give orders to her
submarine commanders to prevent
such catastrophes in the future.
Third-She may review the whole
subject, beginning with the starva-
ton by England and invite the atten-
ton of the United States to the fact
that while England has free access
to American ports for ammunition
and arms, Germany has not for food.
She will not claim that this is the
fault of the United States, but may
assert that the submarine campaign
was in response to the "inhuman'
proceedings of England, and while it
may appear irregular, it is in fact
no more irregular than the starva-
ton blockade and no more grievous
to neutrals.
May Refuse.
Fourth-Her reply may be a solid
shot refusal to modify her proceed,
ings on the ground she is fighting
for her life and that her life is more
to her than the "niceties" of inter
national law or the opinions of neut,
rails. .
Any one Of the first answers would
leave the door open to further ex.
changes, the United States pressing
for a declaration of policy that viii
protect her citizens and commerce
and Germany is trying to save all II
the submarine campaign possible. The
fourth answer might cause. a sever
ance of relations and a tension thai
would lead to a declaration of war a
El. E-EgHrH - -s--- -- EraIH