Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-21
ANX|OUSLY AWAIT
WORD FROM BERLIN
Officials Show Unconcealed Con-
Germ Over Probable Nature
Of German Reply.
TENSION AGAIN INCREASING
Lansing Denies Idea of Calling
On Teutonic Diplomats to Stop
Discussing Negotiations.

WASHINGTON, u, c.. February 20
Tension is increasing in The situation
between the United States and ,ii. cen
trail powers as II response is awaited
from Berlin TO the latest request OF
the American government for definite
assurances regarding the conduct or
new developments to-day. bu, IL. view.
of in,imations from Teutonic diplomats
and apparently significant news lis
patches. officials are awaiting word
from Berlin with unconccalcd concern.
Indication of the attitude of the Bcr-
lin Foreign Office may he received to-
morrow or Tuesday in confidential re-
ports from Ambassador Gerard. Of
fcals still hope tina, the VGlcial adj
vices will not conform TO the indica-
tions in the press dispatches thot the
German government is unalteraLiy op-
posed TO modifying its proposed intcn-
tions TO sink all merchant ships Of the
entente allies without warn;ng after
February go.
Count Won Bernstorff, the German
ceived a reply to his dispatch before
the middle Of the week. As the posi-
ton OF the United States was cx
planned TO the Austrian representative
Baron Erich Zwicdipek, only yestcr-
day. Vienna would hardly be heard
from for at least a week.
L. =. MUST QUICKLY
FORMULATE POLICY
II is realized in official quarters that
whatever policy the United States de-
c:des TO pursue will have TO be formu-
lated quickly. Only nine days remain
before commanders of German and Aus
trian submarines will begin 20 put
their new Instructions into effect. un-
less the central powers decide to post
ponc tho order pending the outcome OF
negotiations with the United States.
secretary Lansing to-day denied re-
ports that he contemplated calling on
high Teutoric diplomats to discontinue
the giving out OF information concern
ms diriossatic negotiations. He said
there was no change in his official or
personal relations with Count Won
BernstorH or Baron Zwiedinck.
Il has been known for some time
that administration oncials objected
negotiations. about which the State DC.
partmcn; was silent, reaching the pub
!ic apparently through diplomatic
sources. II is SAID nj the State Depart
mcnt that unless diplomats stop di-
vulginE information, the department
may take into consideration the oues-
,ion Of having them withdrawn. al
though SO far such action is not actual
~ contemplated
SURPRISED At ACTION
OF NON BER RSSToEEI'
Officials to-day recalled chat during
tn" Lusitania negotiations surprise was
expressed in an official notr by this
government that Count vos Rernstorft
should have rcsortcd TO the now spapcrs
10 address the people Of tho United
states" This was tho warming adver-
tIscnncnt published by the German en-
hassy before tho Lusitania sailed 1t
WAS referred TO in Secretary Eryan's
first Lrsitona note Of Nav 3 as
surprising ir:cgularity.'
The wide divergence of views he
tween the German and Austrian de-
crccs and the instructions sent 70
American ambassadors. ministers and
consular officers regarding conduct of
for which no present solution is seen
by administration officials.
SITUATION SUMMARIZED
by COMPETENT AUTHORITY
In the language of IL competent au-
thority. the situation was summarized
as follows:
Germany has given notice substan-
TALLY that shn will sink armed mer-
chantmcn without warning. This gov
crnmcnt thinks that whether "A mcr-
chairman is armed for defense only or
armed in the sense implied by Germany
is question OF fact, and. therefore,
that offensive armament cannot he as
sumed. This government has sent in
StructionS To its ambassadors and min
istcrs, and these instructions make no
distinction as between merchantmen
We regard liners passenger ships
freight-carrying ships. and even tramps
as entitled to all the obligations due
from belligcreuts and ncutrals under
international law. This attitude of
ours has never been changed Express
sions to tho effect that the law might
be changed or new regulations made.
did not. because they could not. change
international law. The United States
il had made suggestions which are not
now international law. Neither the
German government nor any other had
n right to assume that any suggestion
by tho United States made in the
memorandum which was sent To the
allies. and not to Germany. could he a
justification for the belief by Germany
that the United states would undertake
to change international law
Officials are not prepared to say that
middle ground may not be suggested.
RI there is such suggestion, they will
consider II. The reply OF the German
government to the expression of views
given by the United States last week
may change the situation.
1T might materially modif the rela-
tons of the two countries TO the con-
troversy." was the way the administra-
ton authority put it.
Munitions Plant Destroyed.
MONCTON, y. r.. February 2O.--The
plant of the Record I,ounurv vlnro