Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-04-21
AMBASSADOR TALKS
WITH LANSING ABOUT
SUBMARINE SITUATION

(Continued From Page IL
can Ambassador Gerard at Berlin would
be instructed to come home.
Congress assembled today impressed
with the deep significance of the persi-
dents action. The dispassionate words
in which Mr.. Wilson yesterday told a
joint session Of the house and senate
OF his purpose took on a fuller force
of meaning when publication of the
note to Germany. almost identical with
the address in outline and phrase, re-
vealed in what unmistakable terms the
American government had declared
itself.
COUNT is OPTIMISTIC.
Count Won Bernstorff, optimistic
throughout the long negotiations that
have approached a crisis, though less
nearly, several times before, was hope
full his government would find way to
prevent a break in relations. Last
night he sent a long message to Berlin.
said TO recommend that some such as
surances as were given regarding sub
marine operations in the Mediterranean
should now be thrown around all sub
marine operations.
Mr.. wilson's note declared the United
States has considered from the first
that the destruction of commerce by
submarines Is utterly lnCOmpdIlDle
with the principles of humanity" 1t
is evident the presidents demand is
that the employment of submarines
Sail be restricted to operations against
warships. This is the crucial point
in the controversy.
The note leaves no opportunity for
a double meaning. 1t declares: 81:
it is still the purpose of the Imperial
government to prosecute relentless and
indiscriminate warfare against vessels
of commerce by the use of submarines,
without regard to what the government
of the United States must consider the
sacred and indisputable rules of inter
national law and the universally recog.
nized dictates of humanity, the govern
ment of the United States is at last
forced to the conclusion that there Is
but one course it can pursue.
MUST ABANDON METHODS.
UNLESS the imperial government
should now Immediately declare and eff
feet an abandonment of its present
methods of submarine warfare against
passenger and freight carrying yes.
sells, the government Of the United
States can have no choice but to sever
diplomatic relations with the German
empire altogether"
If the attack on the steamer Sussex
the note continued, had been an iso-
lated case, the United States might
have hoped that the submarine COM
mander acted in violation of his gov
ernment's solemn pledges. "This case,
says the note, "unhappily does not
stand alone"
An appendix to the note deals with
the sussex case, the torpedoeing of
which is said to be proved by evidence
and substantiated by the German dis
claimer of responsibility. Facts in the
appendix show that three American army
and naval officers found in the Sussex
screw bolts corresponding to those used
in German torpedoes. identification
marks on those bolts correspond with
those on German torpedoes in the pos
session of the French government. The
American officers also found thirteen
pieces of metal which they have iden-
titled as parts of German torpedoes.
Copies of the note have been sent to
the representatives here Of nutral ma
tions.
Senator Kern, majority leader in the
senate. said at the White House today
he believed there was a general DISPOSE
tion in the senate not to discuss Presi-
dent Wilson's address on the note to
Germany. Discussion, he said, could do
no good and might do harm. He added
that no action on the part of the con-
gress was called for and he did not
ext ect that any would be taken.