South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-05-05
0fficiaIGom at Washington
GraveIy ApprehenSive That
Break May Result From
Germany'S Attitude.
ADMIT NOTE is OPEN TO
TWO INTERPRETATIONS
Tone of UnfriendIineSS is Con-
Ceded to be Largely For
"Home Consumption"
of TeutOnS.
InternationaI News Service

International News Service:
WASHINGTON. Nay 5.-Gravely
apprehensive. Washington today
awaited Pres't wilson's interpreted
ton Of the German reply TO the
american submarine ultimatum,
made public in Berlin this morning
Omciaidom was widely divided as to
the effect of the note. The text, it
was admitted. was open to two inter
pretations-either that it did, or it
aid not meet the views of the presi-
dent.
Those who argued that II did
pointed out that the only part of
rhe rejoinder which showed definite
action. set forth that Germany had
changed the orders given her SUBJ
marine commanders so that now they
specifically are instructed 10 obey
the requirements OF international
law in attacking merchantmen, and
also 10 save lives except when YES
sells resist or try TO escape. Those
taking an opposite view. and they
include many of the administration
leaders. insisted that the concession
is so hinged upon conditions that it
! does not meet the views of the
United States. and that Pres't Wilson
has no alternative under his own
note of April Is but to recall Am
| bassador Gerard and hand Ambas-
sador Won Bernstorff his passports.
Defer Comment.
The president and his cabinet had
before them today the press dis
patches containing the note. But the
! pleasant fiction of not considering
any text but that officially COM
Inunicated by Ambassador Gerard as
the official one. WAS resOrted TO in
order TO evade any expression OF any
sort that could be construed as in
dicating the attitude TO be taken by
the administration. The Gerard text
is on the way by cable in code and
| IL cannot get into Pres't Wilson 3
hands. state department officials say.
much before tomorrow 1t was en-
phatically asserted at both the white
house and the state department that
here will be no undue haste in
! reaching the decision on whether the
note is satisfactory or not. The pres
ident and Sec'y Lansing will digest
the entire note before reaching any
conclusion and even the presidents
closest advisers declined to hazard a
guess as TO what his attitude is like
~ TO be
Tone for Home Consumption
So far as the general tone OF the
reply was concerned. officials con-
coded its seeming unfriendIiness. but
il was pointed out that this was 10
he expected owing 70 the fact that
the German government was COM
PEELED 10 take into consideration the
effect any concessions whatever to
the United States would have upon
the German people who consider the
submarine the nations chief weapon
FOR offensive operations on the sea.
The accusations that this govern
ment has favored the allies and dis
eliminated against Germany has
been expected by officials here and
are discounted by the realization
that a good part of this paragraph
IS designed for home consumption.
The real cruN OF the situation was
contained IN the declaration by the
German government that its orders
10 its submarine commanders now
have been changed. Taken by them
selves. the new orders would abso-
lutely prevent a break because they
fully meet what Sec'y OF state Lam
! sing said a fortnight ago would be
necessary 10 satisfy this government.
Condition il Important
But the fact that Germany has
seen ut 10 couple with the condition
that the German government now
will expect the United States to de-