The sun., 1916-12-18
RUTHLESS U.WAR
OR PEACE, Is SIGN
Washington Officials Now
Concerned About German
Pledge II War Goes On.
PRESIDENT STANDS FIRM
BernstOrff Tries to Get United
States to Bring Pressure
on Entente.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 17.-Now that the
German peace proposal has been trans
mitted to the Entente belligerents Presi-
dent Wilson is facing the problem OF
dealing with the relations between the
American and German Governments,
which may be materially affected by the
new role which the Central Powers have
assumed with respect to the continuance
Of the war
1ntinations have reached official cir
cles here that IL the Entente fatly re-
fuses to consider the olive branch they
will feel the sword" in a relentless. un-
restricted manner which Germany be-
lieves will be justified.
This at once raises in the minds OF
officials here the probability OF unrc-
stricted submarine warfare. together
with all other methods which the Ger
man military exponents have advocated
II Is even said in reliable quarters that
the German Emperor will eliminate the
rest trictions which Chancellor Won Beth
mann Hollweg has placed on relentless
submarine warfare II the EFFORTS OF Ger
man diplomacy now fail.
German opinion will demand this. II Is
said, and the effect of the Imperial
Chancellor's diplomatic failure will bring
to the ascendency the advocates of the
most drastic methods to defeat the
enemies of the fatherland In other
words. the German military regime will
get carte blanche to go ahead.
war Of SeIf-preservation.
II IL explained here that refusal Of the
Entente to agree even TO talk peace
will place Germany's enemies sauarely
on record AZ determined to crush Prus-
sian miiitarsm or Germany as the nation
-, hnn "a .nNa
according TO the German viewpoint. a
war OF self-preservation.
Under these circumstances II Is felt
that every means at Germanys disposal
must he exercised TO save the nation.
The German submarine pledge TO the
United States. II is said. would be the
first matter of policy which the German
people would demand TO have changed.
II IL emphasized that the German
pledge to the United states was condi-
tionai upon the United States Govern
ment causing Great Britain to discon-
tinue the illegal blockade" and that
otherwise the German Government
would then be facing new situation In
which 1t must reserve itself complete
liberty Of decision
The foregoing phrase practically ter
minated the note from the Imperial Ger-
man Government to the United States
under date OF May 4. 1915. 1t was in
this note that the pledge to discontinue
present methods Of submarine war
fare was enunciated.
But Germany In this note took occa-
sion to state to the American Govern
ment that "neutrals cannot expect that
Germany. forced 10 fight for her exist
ence. shall for the sake of neutral In
terest restrict the use Of all effective
weapon II her enemy is permitted to con-
tinue 20 apply at will methods OF war
fare violating the rules Of international
law
Growing Demand In Germany.
In the growing demand throughout
Germany for recourse TO the use OF
this effective weapon" IL Is daily
pointed out that the British attitude
with respect TO methods OF warfare vio-
lating the rules OF international law
has suffered no change whatever.
II Is explained that among all classes
OF the German people the opinion is
prevalent that Germany Is now in a
position 10 strike a death blow TO British
/ shipping by the unrestricted use OF
submarines. and that 1t would he posi-
/ BILE to starve Great Britain into sub
mission in "A few months.
The arguments used by the follower.
of Won Tirpitz and the German Navy
League Is that the unrestricted sub
! marine warfare would he In the interes
not only OF the German people but OF
humanity generally. because II woult
| force peace and prevent further year,
Of the "cruel and sanguinary war"
II Is known in Administration circle
that the trump card which Won Beth
mann-H -Hollweg has been able to play ii
holding the advocates of relentless sub
marine warfare in check has been tn
assumption that the United States woul,
be invaluable to Germany as a pro
mOter Of peace between the warning fac
tions OF Europe. The motto OF the I'm
perial Chancellor has been: I'VE nee,
the United States and must not often,
her" That is why Germany yielded I,
the American Government In the SUISSE,