Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-08-21
GERMANS WAITING
FOR ENGLISH NOTE
BEFORE REPLYING
Declare If United States Is
Firm With England Answer
Will Be Made
(By Lowell Mellet)

hNsI
New York, Aug. 2l.-" Don't expect
any official answer to the allegations
now being printed. There will not be
any for there is nothing to answer. ~
SO declared today one of the pur-
ported chief conspirators of the alleged
German conspiracy which a New York
newspaper asserts has been organized
against the neutrality of the United
States. A persistent effort was made
by the United Press today TO obtain an
expression from the men branded as
conspirators, on the strength Of their
private correspondence as revealed in
the World expose, but they apparently
have no statement to make.
"Only one thing can keep that story
alive, " said the German quoted above,
''and that would be a reply by Am
bassador Won Bernstorff or Dr.. Albert,
or the chancellor himself They won t
answer it because it contains nothing
that requires an answer, and they know
that to make statement now would
only be to prolong the attack. 1t VIII
fall Of its own weight or blow away by
reason of its lack of weight in another
day or two."
Seeing Count Won Bernstorff at the
Ritz Carlton seemed to confirm this
German s view. He refused to discuss
the conspiracy charges-wOuld only
smile and shake his head when the sub.
ject was suggested.
However, whether or not his author.
| ity in the matter is the same, the views
Of the alleged fellow cOnspirator Ger
tainly embody the same philosophy and
are Of interest.
There won't be any denial Of the
correctness of the copies Of correspond
ence printed, he said. ''The letters
were stolen and they speak for them
selves. But what do they show3 They
show that we've been doing only the
same things that are being done in thi,
country for the benefit of the othei
countries engaged in the war. We
overstepped the bounds and all the cor
respondence that may be stolen will fai
to prove the contrary. Certainly we w
wanted to win American public opinion
hopeless as the task might seem, will
all the news from Europe filterinl
through England,
"Suppose it were proved that he hat
bought supplies1 And hadn t used then
but kept them in this countryi Jus
what offense would that constitutes i
it is argued that this is inconsistent
with our objections to the extorting Of
munitions, the answer is that Germany
is earnest in her objections and gladly
would forego the privilege of obtaining
such supplies here-if any have beei
obtained
''We are aware of what is legitimat,
and what is not and we have not gon,
beyond what is proper
Germans generally declare they se'
no reason to believe that the presen
uproar is likely to interfere with tn
progress Of diplomatic negotiations be
tween German and the United States
In the latter regard they are chiefl,
interested, they say, in the fortncon
ing note from the United States h
England because Of its probable bearinl
on the German answer to the last Lusi
tania note.
The American note to Great Britain
said man close to the inner Germa
diplomatic circle today, means NOR
than that--it means, he said, a decisio
in Germany as'to whether the America
note shall or shall not be answered.
"The situation is such in Germany
he declared, that Germany eanno
make reply TO the United states unles
it be shown to the German people tina
this cnntry intends to demand emphat
ically that England respect the right
Of neutrals. Such an attitude undei
] stood by the German people-and IL
30 understood now by any means
would make possible q conclusion O
the Lusitania incident.
" Unless the last American note I
: Germany can be answered under sue
circumstances, do not believe il wi
be answered at all Ma good can com
Of further exchange Of acrimoniou
notes.
81 do believe that the preparatio
Of the German reply viii not be take
up until tine note to England has bee
Y sent. If England gets the sort Of not
/. we think is due her, | am cOnfider
I that President Wilson y hope Of M
4 dating between England and German
!. to the good purposes Of freeing the sea
{ Of unfair domination and unfair wa
fare will begin to be realized
. ---~----~--N-------~->-
4 conditions still prevailed today III
flood set in yesterday, following e.
I a