El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-05-05

I circles. One was that Germany has
declared it her intention Of abandon,
ing her present method of submarine
warfare" as demanded by the presi-
dent. and that the American govern
ment might have to wait to see the
abandonment effected
Another View Forecast Break.
The other was that the United States
having already attempted to have
! Great Britain give up interference
told Germany that it cannot discuss
| with her its negotiations with Great
] Britain, has no course but to break
| diplomatic relations with Germany
While the general tone of the Ger
man note created an unfavorable inn
preston. officials took the position
I that the language was immaterial il
the guarantee were real
It's Up to President.
Some officials believed tnar for this
reason the controversy had now come
to the point where Germany's future
action would determine the course OF
the United States.
The refusal of the German govern
ment openly to admit the attack on
the Sussex was considered only Incl
dental to the main issue.
Until president Wilson himself de-
cides whether the German note is ac-
ceptable there will be no announce
ment Of the attitude of the govern
ment
All Officials Are Silent.
Secretary of state Lansing and all
other officials who attended the cabi.
net meeting today declined afterward
gard1ng the note from Germany.
Review OF Negotiations.
Germany's diplomatic correspondence
with the United States on the sub
marine issue has extended over nearly
a year and more than once has brought
the Two countries to pass where a
break seemed unavoidable All along
president Wilson has spoken primarily
fo1 the inviolable rights OF Americans
and generally for the rights Of n0u-
trals. Germany has been restrained
Dy public sentiment, aroused against
curtailing the effectiveness of her best
weapon against her enemies President
Wilson has been embarrassed first by
dissension in the cabinet and later in
congress and by prO-German propa-
Eanda conducted throughout the
Lusitnnia Case Began II.
Submarine warfare did not actually
enter the realm of diplomacy until
after the destruction of the Lusitania
The accumulation OF cases affecting
Americans was taken up in the note
y Germany which was dispatched May
49, 1913. II characterized the attacks
on the Falaba, Cushing. Gulflight and
l.usitania as a series OF events which
the United States has observed with
ment"
It expressed the hope that sub
marine commanders engaged in torpe-
doing peaceful ships without warning
were IN such practices operating with
OUT the sanction Of their government
me note closed with these words:
The imperial German government
VIII not expect the government Of the
United states to omit any word or act
necessary to the performance Of its
sacred duty Of maintaining the rights
Of the United States and its citizens
and OF safeguarding their free exer-
else and enjoyment"
Germany Unsatisfactory Reply.
On May IS. 1915, Germany replied
with a note which covered a wide range
OF argument and was held to be gem
orally unsatisfactory. it alleged that
the Lusitania had masked guns aboard: !
that she in effect, was a British auxil-
larry cruiser; that she carried munitions
Of war; that her owning company,
aware of the dangers she risked in the I,
submarine war zone. was in reality re-
sponsible for the loss Of American !
lives. The note met none OF the con-
tentions Of the United States so far /
as the Lusitania and Falaba sinkings !
we're concerned. although a supplement J
tary note later did acknowledge that /
Germany was wrong in the attacks !
on the Cushing and the Gulflight, ex- 1
pressed regret for these cases and /
promised to pay damages
Bryan Resigns.
While the American reply to the note /
was being framed, dissension in the /
cabinet resulted in the resignation OF /
secretary Bryan who contended for a
policy of warning Americans off bel=
ligerent ships. He resigned because
he thought he could not sign the next
note to Germany, which he feared
would lead the United States into war
Mr.. Dumba, the Austrian ambassador,
later recalled at the request Of preBi-
dent Wilson, sent to the Berlin foreign
office q message which was represented /
as stating substantially that Mr.. Bryan |
had intimated to the ambassador that !
the vigorous tone Of the American notes
should not be regarded in Berlin as too |
warlike.
Lnnsing's First Note.
Secretary Lansing. Mr.. Bryans sue