The Sentinel=record., 1916-12-14

Berlin, Dec. l3.-(By wireless tO Sayville.) )-Dr Alfred Zimmerman, secretary of foreign affairs, discussed today with a member of the staff of the Overseas News Agency the i'm pression created in Germany by the attitude of the United States toward Germany and Great Britain as out lined in the Associated Press Wash ington dispatch of November 19. Dr. Zimmerman said:
 As to the impression created: Al most since the beg inning of the war two currents of O inion could be dis cerned il Germany Judging by the rules of neutrality the United States Intentionally favored Great Britain in an almost outspoken fashion, accord ing to some; others took the view that the United States was neutral in spirit and action The discussion be tween the advocates of these two opinions was sometimes very animat- ed. The discussion was reopened by the dispatch in question. The parties and newspapers that did not believe that America was observing strict neutrality accepted the dispatch as confirmation of their opinion and to the others the news came as shock.
 In order to understand this effect one has only to recall the large num- Der of facts which have been before the eyes of the German public dur ing the last few years England has repeatedly announced that all English shi. S ought to be ready to destroy German submarines wherever they find them. This has been puplicly proclaimed as well by private as by official persons in England. Quite recently Lord Robert Cecil, in the British parliament gave expression 10 this view
 "The London Times of November q published a letter from a we'll known member of parliament and ship owner (Robert PD Houston, promising to every English-born cap. tain a prize of 2,000 pounds who with an English merchant ship destroyed a German submarine. Houston on this occasion added that English sailors ought to return to the methods of Hawkins and Drake or should imi- tate the example set by Nelson in the Copehangen case-they ought to take the sea law into their own hands Houston was fully conscious that he advocated and advised actions con trary to the law of nations.
 We further know that hostile sup marines have attacked and in some instances sunk German merchantmen without the slightest warning. Thus were sunk the German steamers Bur Gomeister Votmelle Dorita, The Elbe and Hollandia. They were all at lacked by enemy submarines or tor pedoes without the shadow of a warn ing. These facts, of course. justify the suspicion that among other Ger man steamers which are simply over due or have not returned several met their end in the same fashion. In one case, that of the steamer Klga, We know it from survivors. In this case seven lives were lost and survivors declared that British suh- marine calmly steered around the sinking ship without even stirring a hand towards rescue. I merely refer to this in order to explain the feel ing of the German population.
 "Germany, on the other hand has promised the United States to carry on submarine war according to the international rules of cruiser war fare"
 Dr. Zimmerman at this moment in- terrupted his conversation, walked through his office, stopped and in the face of the interviewer said to his clerk in an energetic manner:
 This promise will have to be kept" Then he continued
 "The orders to the commanders of our submarines are clear ana strict in this direction. can affirm with absolute certGmty that D5 German