New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-16
Relations Between u. ).
and Germany Depend
on His influence.
ENVOY ACCEPTS
THE RESPONSIBILITY
President viii Await Result OF
His Efforts to Influence
Berlin's Action.
fFrom The Tribune Burcau.l

fFrom The Tribune Bureau
Washington, Sept. Is. -" Watchful
waiting" is the governments pro-
pramme for the next fortnight in its
relations with Germany. During that
time there will be no direct communi-
cation with Berlin, but any exchanges
Of views that may be necessary Will
take place informally between Secre-
tary Lansing and Ambassador Won
Bernstorf.
At the end of two weeks it is e1-
pected that one of two things will hap
pen. Either Germany will furnish this
government with plain statement OF
her submarine policy or Ambassador
Gerard will be recalled and the Ger
man Ambassador sent home.
As already indicated in The Tribune,
the German government could satisfy
the United States and dispose OF the
whole controversy by furnishing Am
bassador Gerard with a copy OF the
instructions said to have been given to
submarine commanders to destroy no
merchsnt vessels illegally. II the in
structions are in fact as they are repre-
scented in the informal communications
of Count Won Bernstroff and in the
Arabic note, they would leave no doubt
Of the sincerity of the Germany gov
ornment. Unless, however, Germany de-
cides to do this, or offers similar as
surances in some equally acceptable
form, the good faith OF the Berlin For
eign Office will remain under suspicion,
which will leave only one alternative
the recall of the American Ambassador
Persons close to the White House
declare that tho President is thor
oughly out of patience with Germanys
unwillingness TO talk about the sub,
marine issue in plain, unequivocal
terms, and is making his last stand for
friendly relations on the terms stated
Newspaper opinions from all parts OF
the country are said to have impressed
the President that the country is tired
of being toyed with by Germany and is
ready to back the President in decisive
action unless Germany comes down to
a declaration of principles.
II was announced at the State De-
partment to-day that Ambassador Won
Bernstorff suggested that a summary
of the evidence in the Arabic case held
by this government be sent TO the Ger
man Foreign Office. Secretary Lansing
accordingly cabled to Ambassador
Gerard the substance of the affidavits
of American Survivors and Instructed
him to present II to Foreign Minister
Won Jagow.
1t is understood that Count Won
Bernstorff was greatly impressed by
the evidence. and was inclined to agree
with him that il made the German
explanation as given in the Arabic
note untenable. 1t is because of this
apparently incontrOvertible evidence
that President Wilson has been forced
to the conclusion that the Arabic note
was not drafted in good faith, and has
decided that Germany must withdraw
| the plea of justification, or modify 1t
| by the admission that proof of error
would make Germany liable for indem-
iity.
The Presidents determination TO
make the Arabic case the test Of
| Germany's sincerity has been arrived
! at, according to those closest to him,
after full consideration of the con-
! sequences Of his action. He is declared
ready to break relations with Germany
! if the conditions warrant it, in spite
that a break would lead inevitably TO
war.
Ambassador Won Bernstorff has been
| given to understand that his stay in
| this country is dependent on his abil-
! ity to bring his government around TO
the American view of the Arabic case
| and to impress on the Foreign Office
! the necessity of responding TO the
| American demand for assurances with
! a precise definition of its policy to-
ward merchant ships. The Ambassa-
| dor, it is underst BOD, has accepted the
responsibility, and is confident that
Berlin will back him up in the atti-
! tude he has adopted toward the de-
mands of the President.
! As the situation stands tonight,
therefore, it depends entirely on Count
! Won Bernstorff and the extent of his
influence with his government whether
| friendly relations between the United
States and Germany will continue.
| Officials express the greatest optimism.
stating that there is no question of
| the German governments desire TO
maintain relations and that Germany
is negotiating only with a view tc
learning how little she car grant and
still avoid a break.
President Wilson's attitude, as sum-
/ married. in high official quarters, is
that the country is tired of notes and
of interminable discussions of tech
nicalities without real progress. Words,
no matter how forceful. cannot take
the place of straight and simple
act. The Presidents friends have i'm
pressed on him chat the country is
beginning to drift away from him and
is forming its own cor clusions on the
issues without reference TO those OF
the administration.
The President is strongly opposed
TO break with Germany and will
go to any reasonable lengths to avoid
it. He feels that he has gone as
far in meeting Germany as can be
expected. He has been brought TO a
realization that the people believe that
the time for words is past and that
the next development in the contro-
versy with Germany. unless the Amer
lean demands are complied with, must