Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-01
WASHINGTON FESTIVE
AT DELAY FORECAST; GERARD
CABLES KAISER'S MESSAGE
WASHINGTON. NAV


Ambassador Gerard has cabled briefly
that he is forwarding long report of
his meeting with the German Emperor
The report is understood to convey a mes
sage of good will and friendship from the
German sovereign and to make IL clear to
President Wilson and the American peo-
pie that Germany wants peace with the
United States.
All Washington Is now eagerly await
ing the receipt of Mr.. Gerard's dispatch,
but up to a late hour last night it had
not reached the State. Department. 1t Is
expected that 1t will be before President
Wilson today.
The threatened delay in Germany's re-
ply is causing annoyance.
Though not wishing to minimize the
Importance of any message of friendship
and good will or the conciliatory attitude
of the German Emperor, officials here do
not regard Mr. Gerards dispatch as likely
to eliminate all tension. The statement
is reiterated that the President is firm in
his stand that Germany must squarely
meet his demands, which call for an imme
diate abandonment of present methods of
submarine warfare, Secretary Lansing
said last night that the situation remains
unchanged.
TIME LIMIT REPORTED.
Reports are current in diplomatic cir
ofss that President Wilson has set the
auzsiversary of the sinking of the Lusi-
xanta as the limit for Germany's answer
eeyhis note. It was impossible to confirm
the reports, but friends of the President
were inclined to regard them more seri-
ously than mere speculations.
They point out that the President has
told several callers within the last week
that he had virtually made up his mind
as to the length of time he would walt
for GerTnany's reply. Despite his COM
mand for Immediate" action the Presi-
dent has emphasized his desire to give
Germany a last chance.
Germany will have had IS days for
consideration of the Presidents demand
when the anniversary of the Lusitania's
sinking arrives, and there are indications
that the President considers this ample
time.
1t is deemed unlikely that Germany
would trife with American public opin-
ion TO the extent of permitting the ami
versary of the Lusitania sinlSng-next
Saturday--to pass without definite aVow-
ais OF intentions in the present case. At
any rate, 1t is felt certain that President
Wilson will not wait longer than Satur-
day for a reply. and that unless there is
early evidence that the note is ready for
dispatch he will suggest to Mr.. Gerard
that the time is up.
PRESIDENTS MIND MADE UP.
Members of the Presidents Cabinet
have also hinted at the fact that the
President mind was made up as 10 when
he believed further delay in meeting his
demand would not be endured. In reply
TO the direct question as to that date,
one Cabinet member significantly COM
mented on the fact that the Presidents
message to Congress was delivered on
April ts-the anniversary OF the battle OF
Lexington.
The President is understood to have
expressed the opinion at Fridays Cabinet
meeting that the reply had been already
delayed about long enough Secretary
Lansing said after the meeting that no
decision had been reached to press the
matter for an Immediate reply, but he
clearly indicated the United States was
unfayorably impressed with the delay,
and that 1t would not be tolerated much
longer on any pretext.
1t Is recalled that the German Govern