The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-07-14
REPLY NOT enough
OUTLINE OF GERMAN ANSWER
APPEARS UNSATISFACTORY

u. 5. STAND IS POSITIVE
Government Refuses to Informally
Discuss Forthcoming Reply But Of
t,cials are Far From Satisfied at its
Expected Tenor-Situation is Cr1ti-
cal.
The United States will not engage
informally in any discussion or nego-
tiation with Germany regarding the
character OF the forthcoming reply to
the last American note on submarine
warfare.
Ambassador Gerard at Berlin has
been informed that such is the presi-
dents decision, and that the ambas-
sador is to make no comment on the
tentative draft given him by the Ger
man foreign office. If asked for an
expression, he is to say that the Unit
ed States will await a formal reply
before discussing the question fur
ther
The outline of the German note, as
cabled by Ambassador Gerard, Is
known to be far from satisfactory to
officials. With respect to the sinking
of the Lusitania, on which more than
one hundred Americans perished, no
admission Of liability is made.
Whether an eXtenuation or not, the
view is expressed in the draft that
when torpedoed it was not beieveo
the Lusitania would sink as rapidly
as she did.
AS for the future, citizens OF the
United States would be permitted to
travel with safety on the high seas II
they were passengers on American
ships, or on belligerent ships not car
rying munitions of war. The United
States would be required to inform
the German government Of the date
of departure Of and character OF YES
sells carrying Americans and guaran-
tee that such ships had no munitions
Of war aboard.
In this connection high officials
stated that it would be an unneutral
act for the United States to notify
any belligerent government OF the
date of departure from an American
5 port or the character of the cargo OF
q merchantmen of a belligerent.
Count Bernstorff, the German am
bassador, was in communication by
wireless with his government during
the day and is und erstood to nave
advised the Berlin foreign oTlce tnat
the form in which the proposals had
been made did not appear to be ac-
ceptable to the United States.
He learned that the position of the
Washington government was that
there must first be recognition by
Germany Of the principle that an un-
armed and unresisting merchantmen
nnust be visited and searched, and
Messengers and crew removed to
place of safety, before the ship is de-
stroyed.
Until there is an agreement on this
principle the American government
can not discuss any modus vivendl
or temporary arrangements, 1t is de-
clared. The German ambassador, it
is believed, is urging his government
to make broad statement on the
principles involved and reserve for
later discussion questions concerning
the separation Of passenger and con-
traband traffic.
The proposal made 5y Germany
that belligerent passenger Fessels
which do not carry munitions Of wal
shall be immune from attack, pro-
yided they heed warnings Of subma-
rines and submit to visit and search
: is not regarded as Of itself objection
able, providing Great Britain and
Germany were to enter into such an
agreement.
The American government, 1t IS
understood, would be willing to as
sist in making arrangements for the
safe carriage of Americans aboard
belligerent passenger vessels which
do not carry munitions Of war If the
arrangement were first made between
the belligerents. Such q method, de-
scribed in diplomatic usages as a
modus vivendi, would not involve any
surrender of rights for the future
and would be applicable only during
fixed period.
For the United States of its OWL
initiative to make concessions, it is
held, would nuperil the entire fabric
of American rights with other belig.
erents.
The suggestion is contained in the
German note, as now 6rcfted, that a
system Of inspection be begun where
by American officials and German
consular officers would certify to the
character of the vessels carrying de-
parting Americans. This, it is as
serted, would also be an unneutral
act. The United States has had nc
officia, connection with the certifca-
ton by British consuls of cargoes OF
goods consigned to neutral countries
These arrangements merely have
been entered into by American ship
owners themselves to protect their
vessels from detentions and delays
It is considered improbable that the
owners Of British vessels would agree
to any inspection by German officials
or recognize the right Of American
l. Officers TO 90 OIlST ludu LIS of
against violation Of rules of neu'
trality.
AS whole the German proposals
are not regarded by well-informed
officials as bringing the questions al
issue between the United States and
Germany any nearer a settlement
than they We're several weeks ago
President Wilson is expected to re-
turn Monday or Tuesday and the for
NAL Germany reply probably will
reach here about the same time.
There were many evidences in Of
fetal circles that the German con-
troversy was again regarded as criti-
cal and that the reply as outlined was
very disappointing. The concessions
alleged to have been made were re-
ferred to as slight departure from
the illegal position held by Germany
and it was pointed out that the Unit
!. ed States, holding a strictly legal
position, was unable to make any
changes or surrender any pOint