The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1916-01-12
tension TIGHTEkS
WILSON TO ACT AS SOON AS
FACTS BECOME CLEARER
Asks MORE INFORMATION

Long Drawn Out Negotiations Over
Submarine Question Approaches
Crisis Which is Most Grave-Cen-
traI Powers Allies are Furnished
With Copies of Correspondence.
There has been no lessening Of the
tension in the new submarine crisis
with President Wilson's return to the
White House to take personal charge
Of the situation, but there were mark
ed indications of the presidents IN
tentions to proceed carefully and de-
liberately becore committing the
United States to the next step in its
already strained relations with the
Teutonic powers. :;
At the state department the sope
was expressed that there would be
opportunity to settle the crisis ami
cably and it was stated that the
American government believed that
Austria's assurances in the last AM
coma note were given in good faith.
TWO points, it was emphasized,
must be cleared up before the next
move is made. It must, be establish
ed whether the British liner Persia
actually was torpedoed, and If SO
what was the nationality Of: the sub
marine.
President Wilson'S first act on his
return was to issue a statement
through Secretary Tumulty promis-
! ing the country action just as soon as
the full facts in the Persia disaster
can be learned.
The president and the secretary OF
state are taking every means possible
to obtain the full facts in this grave
matter and will act just as soon as
the information is obtained" said the
official statement issued at the White
House offices.
The presidents second step was to
direct Secretary Lansing to gather
more information from the Persia
survivors. The secretary ordered the
consuls at Alexandria, Malta and
Cairo to obtain affidayits and at once
cable summaries of their contents.
Until that information is received or
AMBASSADOR Penfeld reports some re-
suit from his inquiry to the Austrian
government the situation so far as
can be seen will be at a standstiH.
Meanwhile, however, there is dis
cussion of what steps the United
| States may take to make clear to the
| belligerents, the central powers and
their allies, the extent to WHICH It
expects to hold them responsible for
submarine operations in violation Of
! international law, be they conducted
by Germans, Austrians, Turks or Bull
/ garians.
Austria's plea that she knew moth
| ing officially of the outcome OF the
submarine controversy with Germany
is recalled by one set Of officials who
favor taking action which might fore
stall similar plea by the other allies
when the United States has finished
with Austria Something definite
along that line probably. will be de-
veloped soon.
Il was discovered that the United
States already. had delivered to the
American diplomatic representatives
in Turkey and Bulgaria and to the
Turkish and Bulgarian. diplomats In
Washington copies Of the submarine
correspondence with Germany. This
is taken as an: Indication that they
will be kept informed of future de-
velopments.l
The president and all his advisers
are represented as realizing to Its
full extent that the submarine con-
troversy, drawn out over nearly
year with perplexing and critical
negotiations often brought to the
breaking point; now is at the most
critical stage it ever has assumed
and their intention is that the next
step shall place the government in
position in which it will be able to
maintain the principles Of lnterna-
tional law and humanity
They are represented as intending
that all the facts shall be so fully de-
yeloped that when move is made 1t
will withstand whatever eventuanties
are expected to follow. The possa-
bility that any action will affect the
relations of the United States not
only with Austria but with all the
central power belligerents as allies Is
not being left out Of consideration.
There is always in the background
1.-THE possibility that the Persia was
not torpedoed or if she was torpe-
i,doed that the act can not be proved,
land the assuran noes Of Baron Zwted1-
| mex, the Austrian charge, that should
one of his country'S submarines De
found responsible reparation and sat
isfaction would be given as a relieV-
ing factor.
But in the background of the
whole case lies the continued de-
struction Of ships with loss Of life
after Germany. and Austria have
given the United States assurances
that passenger ships would not be at
tackled without warning or oppor-
tunity for their non-combatants to
find places OF safety. This broader
phase" of the situation. rather than
| the one .case.' OF. Persia may become
the ground for;the next move.
It was indicated at the state: de-
partment that the fact that'the Persia
had a gun aboard when she went
down might be an important feature
| in the case and that future develop
ments. possibly might warrant the
| United States in advising American
citizens not to travel aboard armed
merchant ships even though they are
armed for defense only. Secretary
Lansing is of the opinion that much
depends upon what use, if any, was
made Of the Persia's gun.
There was an intimatioa that
should it be established that the Per-
sia was torpedoed By an Austrian
submarine the United States might
decide that if no attempt, were made
to use the gun the action was with
out justification. If, however, 1t
should be shown that the crew at
tempted to use or did use the gun,
the United States might consider
that the commander Of the subma-
rine had right to torpedo vessel