The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-02-24
Talk of BernStorff Being Forced
Out Renewed as New Sub
marine Policy Crisis
NearS.
HIGH OFFICIALS WORRIED
Up to Berlin to Break Deadlock
and Government Fears Re-
suit of Decision-Sit-
uation Tense.

Washington. Feb. 22.-State depart.
ment officials said today they consider
the submarine issue with Germany still
in q grave state because the Lusitania
agreement in the light OF the newly an
nounced submarine policy of the Ger
manic powers, contains no assurances
for the future.
The situation, created by the an
nounced intention of sinking armed
merchant ships without warning after
February 80, officials said, was still In
the abstract and was being exercised
as much by the Lusitania agreement
itself, IS it now stands, they explained,
merely treats OF the past and although
it gives all in that respect for which
the United States has contended, Off
Gals do not feel that It clearly guar
antees against another steamship dis
aStCr.
Assurances Are Demanded.
Secretary Lansing already has told
Count Won Ee"nstorff, the German am
bassador, that assurances that the pre-
vious declarations will not be aban-
doned in the new campaign are highly
desirable.
Although no official action has becn
taken, and SecrctarysLansirS denies 1t,
there is a well defined belief in Wash
ington that the relations between Sec
rotary Lansing and Count Won Bern
stcrff are less friendly than at any time
since the outbreak of the war There
is even talk that the German ambassa-
dor'a recall will be asked on the ground
that he is persona non grata to The
administration.
Unfair Methods Charged.
The situation has arisen out of ~ hat
administration officials consider DELHI
crate and unfair publicity methods OF
the ambassador. They hold the Ger
man embassy responsible for creating
the impression that the United States
has changed its attitude on submarine
warfare. AS the best evidence that tbs
state department has not made such a
change. it is intimated the ambassador
is likely to be declared persona non
grata and his recall requested.
One result Of the anger in official
quarters over what is considered in
ternational Misrepresentation was to
bring to light today for the first time
the whole story of recent negotiations
between Lansing and BernstOrff.
U. S. Knew of Teuton Edict.
II was revealed:
That the United States had advance
knowledge Of the German and Aus
trian purpose to issue new decree
REGARDING merchantmen.
That Germany an" Austria postponed
the decree from February l to March
That the United States in sending
its SUGGESTION to the entente allies for
disarmament OF merchant liners did
so as a result Of knowledge Of this
proposed decree.
That at no time did the United States
admit the legal right Of Germany to
issue such a decree. though admitting.
there was some justice to the German
viewpoint.
Acted Without U. S. Support.
That Germany, Notwithstanding her
failure to obtain the agreement of the
United States to the issuance of the
decree-this government holding that
no two or three governments could
make International law for the world
went ahead and made her declaration,
10 he effective March /.
That the United States believes Ger
many blundered.
In this connection tho state depart
Inent was greatly interested in a dis
patch from Berlin which told That Of
fCals there indicate Germany has said
matter. Officials expressed the be-
lief that Berlin has recognized the
blunder and Is now seeking a way out
OF the difficulty.
Berlin Must Find Way Out.
II this theory is true, 1t is agreed
in Washington, the way out probably
will have to be found in Berlin. The
almost openly expressed feeling toward
the German embassy, it Is believed, will
make 1t hard for an agreement to be
reached between the embassy and the
state department. There is an almost
Unanimous belief on the part Of ad-
ADMINISTRATION officials that propaganda
by the embassy is making further
negotiations impossible.
1t has been known for some time
that administration officials objected to
information regarding diplomatic ne
gotiations about which the state de-
Dartnent was silent reaching the pub
lie apparently through diplomatic
sources.