Arizona republican., 1916-02-21
TENSION GROWS AS SUBMARINE
 WARFARE RESPONSE IS AWAITED
Officials at Washington
 Await Word from Berlin With Unconcealed Con- cern; May Hear From
 Gerard by Tomorrow
IRepublican A. p. Leased Wire]

Republican A. p. Leased Wirc]
 WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.-Ten-
 sion is increasing in the situation
 between the United States and the
 central powers as a response 's
 awaited from Berlin to the latest
 request of the American govern
 ment for definite assurance re- oarding the conduct of submarine warfare.
 There were TO new develop
 ments today, but in view of inti
 nations from Teutonc diplomats
 and apparently significient news
 dispatches, officials are awaiting
 word from Berlin with unconoeal-
 ed concern. It is possible that of
 ficial indication of the attitude of
 the Be.lin foreign office may ',e
 received tomorrow or Tuesday in
 confidential. reports from Ambas-
 sador Gerard.
 Officials still hope that the of
 ficiaI advices will not conform to
 the indications in the press dis
 patches that the German govern
 ment $ unalterably opposed to
 modifying it's declared intention to
 sink sl' armed merchant ships of
 the entente allies without war;
 ing after February 2o.
 Count von Brnstorff, the German ambassador, who transmitted the views of the United States to his government late Thursday night, probably will have received reply to his dispatches before the middle uf the week As the position of the United States was explained 10 the representative of Austria. Baron hardly be heard from for at least a week
 It is realized in official Washing ton that whatever policy the United States has decided to pursue will have to be formulated quickly. Only nine days remain before commanders of German and Austrian submarines will begin to put their new instructions into effect unless the central powers decide to postpone the order pending the outcome of the negotiations with the United States.
 Future action will be decided upon after official information concerning the attitude of the central powers is received at the state department.
 Secretary Lansing denied reports today that he contemplated calling high Teutonic officials to the state department to explain various recent newspaper dispatches from Washing ton. He said there was no change in his official or personal relations with Count von Bernstorff or Baror Zwiedinek.
 It has been known for some time that administration officials objected to information regarding diplomatic negotiations about which the state de- partment was silent, reaching tht public. apparently through diplomatic sources. It is said at the state de partment that unless diplomats stoI divulging information the department may take into consideration the ques- ton of having them withdrawn, al though so far such action is not ac- tually contemplated.
 Discussion from an administra tioI viewpoint of the submarine issue witt Germany will be undertaken in th' senate this week. Democrats, led b! Senator Stone, chairman of tEe for eign relations committee. have de termined to meet what they term de effort on the part of the republican senators to make a partisan issue O the situation that has arisen since th' German admiralty's determination tt sink all enemy merchant ships, wheth CT armed for effense or defense.
 Senators Sterling and Lodge, repub lcans, discussed the subject las week, urging that for the Cnite' States to yield the right of German. to sink defensively armed merchan ships would be an unreutral act am
 (CoOtinue1 on p1oe EINnl