Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-09
OFFICIAL TEXT IS
FOUND To DIFFER
LITTLE FROM COPY
President Wilson Is Reported
to Be Disappointed at the
Language Used but viii
Withhold Reply
lBy Associated Press. :

Nby Associated FreSs.I
WASHINGTON, May 6.-The proba-
bility that a diplomatic break with
Germany has been averted. at least tenn
porarily, was strengthened today when
the official text of the German note,
laid before President Wilson and Secre-
tsry Lansing. was found to be almost
identical with the unofficial version sent
to the United States in press dis
patches.
Officials had indicated that should the
official text bear out the unofficial YER
sion, they thought il improbable dipla-
matte relations would have to be sever
ed. unless there should be further at
tacks upon merchant ships i'm violation
of the new pledges given.
Disappointment has been indicated
however, over certain features of the
German reply and some high officials
believe that ii at least cannot be accept
ed Internationally. The president and
Secretary Lansing studied the text care
fully today. going very infinitely over
the phrsseolOgy and the shades OF mean
ing that might be attached TO various
expressions. Opinion as to whether the
note requires an answer seems divided.
PRESIDENT WILL DECIDE.
Decision rests with the president, and
until he has made up his mind, il is
unlikely that an official expression of
opinion will be forthcoming. So far he
fas not indicated to any one his final
judgment i'm the matter
Ii is entirely possible that no reply
viii be sent, for sthe present at leasI,
and that the president will maintain
complete silence for time, allowing
Germany TO demonstrate on her own be-
half the good faith of her intention TO
carry out the policy indicated in her
Nc To, ahrs,a r-fr,
Although the president realizes that
the promises given are the cardinal ele-
ments of the note, he is understood to
be displeased over the language used
and the conditions apparently attached.
Should the note be accepted as salts
factory and a reply sent il is expected
to take the form OF a notification to
Germany that the United States has de-
cided not. to sever diplomatic relations
rs long as the new submarine orders
remain effective and are observed.
LANSING STUDIES NOTE.
Several members of the cabinet were
not in Washington today. Secretary
Lansing left tonight to spend the week
end at Annapolis, taking with him an
official copy of the German note. He
expects to have fully digested its state.
ments by the time of his return Mon
day.
The only intlmation regarding the
personal attitude of President Wilson
was obtained today from persons close
TO affairs of the White House, who de-
scribed him as feeling himself in a po-
sition where he could not question Ger
many's good faith unless the declara-
tiOns made by the German government
should not prove effective.
Count Won Bernstorff. the German am.
bassadOr, returned TO Washington today
from New York He said he had no iu-
structiOns from his government to dis
cuss the situation with Secretary Lam
sing, and that he did not intend to 90
to the state department unless he should
he so instructed by Berlin, or Secretary
Lansing should invite him to call on
Gals would not be, surprised, however,
If the amba ssador SHOULD be Instructed
to call upon Secretary Lansing next
week, after he and President Wilson
have had sufficient time i'm which 10
reach conclusions.
OFFICIAL TEXT DIFFERS.
The official text OF the German note
was made public today by the state d..
partment Ambassador Gerard. i'm trans
hitting the document. said he had re-
ceived copies in both German and Eng
lish, probably accounting for the fact
that the official and the unofficial YER
A slight difference in the texts oc !
ours i'm that paragraph where the unoff5-
cial version says that Germany has
decided to make further a concession
adapting the methods of submarine war
fare to the interests of neutrals" In
the official text the words ''in adapt
ing" appear in place of the word
"adating."- Another difference has to do
with an omission, probably due. to IAN
error in cable transmission. The words
in the unofficial version several at
tempts made by the government of the
United States to prevail upon,~ precej-
ing the words ''the British government
TO act accordingly, failed because Of
flat refusal on the part of the British
are missing from the off.
cial text, the omission being indicated.
The only other discrepancy is that
the unofficial version speaks in one place
of the "incontrOvertible rights" to freed
ON of the seas. while the official text
employs the term "inContestable."