The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-24
WASHINGTON TO
LEARN GERMAN
ANSWER TODAY
Z. 8. Ambassador at Berlin
Sends Long Message.
Contains at Least Outline OF
Germany's Attitude.
GC0NSULTS KAISER'S OFFICIALS
Gathers Solution Is Possible
without a Break.
Strict Secrecy Prevails as to
Contents of Dispatch.
Contains at Least Outline of
Germany's Attitude.
G0NSULTS KAISER'S OFFICIALS
Gathers Solution Is Possible
without a Break.
Strict Secrecy Prevails as I'd
Contents of Dispatch.
Ry CARLw. ACKERMAN.

Berlin. April 24.-President Wilson
may know within twenty-four hours
what reply Germany will make to his
demand that she curb her submariue
war under penalty of a diplomatic
break.
Ambassador Gerard dispatched n
long message to Washington last night
following a Sunday afternoon confer
ence with Secretary Won Stumm of
the foreign office and DR.. Hecksher.
of the foreign relations COMMITTEES Of
the reichstag. Its contents was a Sc
cret but it was freely reported that II
contains at least an outline of the
stand Germany will take in her formal
reply.
At Chancellor's Palace
Ambassador Gerard conferred with
the chancellor at the chancellors pal
ace this morning.
Chancellor Won Bethmann-H Holwegg,
who returned from the kaiser's head
quarters early Sunday, has held no
conference thus far with foreign Of
Bfice officials and has given no intima-
ton of the result of his talk with the
emperor But the general feeling
among officials today is that the sit
uation is still hopeful and that a So
luton is possible without break.
Kaiser Decides Quickly.
Neither Foreign Secretary Won Ja-
gow Under Foreign Secretary Zim-
norman, nor Admiral Won Holtzen-
dorff, chief of the admiralty staff, was
present at the army headquarters con-
ference. The decision apparently was
reached by the kaiser, the chancellor
and General Folkenhaym, chief OF
staff.
In many quarters the chancellor's
7 lat
ser coupled with the unmistakabie
attitude of the majority of the German
pa pers in favor of a peaceful settle
ment. was taken to mean that Ger
many has found a way to meet the
American demands.
Dispatch Reaches Washington.
Washington, April 24-There were
indications in official quarters today
that the tenor of Germanys forth
coming reply to the United States de-
mands concerning submarine war
fare, is known. A long message from
Ambassador Gerard is believed to have
conveyed the information
Whether Gerard's adviees support
unofficial reports that show likelihood
of Germany's concessions to the Amer
lean view, could not be told No word
of the actual contents of his report
was available.
Official Reply Later.
rms week, IL is expected. Will gee
the arrival of the German reply itself
1t is considered possible that Gerard
has forwarded tentative suggestions of
the German government, the latter
seeking light on the reception such
suggestions would receive IL embodied
in the formal reply. Gerard, it is said
is certain to be advised that anything
short of compliance with the United
States demands that submarine war
fare against merchantmen cease until
new methods are devised and ratified,
viii be rejected by this government
Must Operate U-Boats Legally.
In this connection, it is understood
Gerard has been forced to make clear
to Germany-if there is any doubt, as
unofficial advices indicate there may
be-that the United States does not
ask abandonment of all submarine
warfare: that only abandonment OF
such warfare against merchantmen Is
asked. Such abandonment shall con-
tinue only until Germany has laid
down new methods that meet with the
United States approval. In the mean
time. however. the significance of the
presidents suggestion in his note that
the submarine cannot from its very
nature meet the requirements of crui-
ser warfare, is not lessened
Germany is expected to understand
that, unless she can make an unex-
pected demonstration of ability to op-
crate submarines legally against ship
ping, such operations must cease en-
tireIv.