Evening star., 1916-05-09
WAITING TO HEAR
FROM BERLIN NOW
Administration Officials Stand
ing on the Last Note
to Germany.
SINKING OF THE CYMRIC
is NOT TO BE NOTICED
Attack on White Star Liner With
out Jurisdiction of U. S.-Secre-
: tary Lansing Explains.

Officials of the administration. al
,ions of the relations between the
United States and Germany, in its pres
ent aspect. are awaiting today with
considerable interest to hear how the
latest note of President Wilson'S is re-
ceived in Berlin. There seems to he
some doubt as to whether any reply
will be made. AT any rate. no further
action will be taken by this govern
ment except in the event of the de-
Struction of merchantmen and the
injury of Americans. either as passen-
gers connectedo with the crew.
through German submarine operations
in violation of the assurances contained
in the latest communica tion from Ber-
lin.
1t was at first supposed that the sink
ing of the White Star liner Cymric by
A German submarine might compllcate
the situation. but ii is stated officially
that the fact that that vessel was in
the admiralty service removes 1t from
the class of vessels entitled to the usual
warning required in the case OF mer-
chant vessels under the agreement.
Secretary Lansing Explains.
In making public the note to Ger
many secretary Lansing lSSueu tue loi-
lowing statement on the subject;
THE greater part of the German an
swer is devoted to matters which this
government cannot discuss with the
German government The only ques-
tions of right which can be discussed
with that government are those arising
out of its action or out of our own. and
in no event those questions which are
the subject of diplomatic exchanges
between the United States and any 9TH
er country.
The essence of the answer is that
Germany Yields to our representations
with regard to the rights of merchant
ships and non-combatants on the high
seas and engages to observe the rec
ogniZed rules of international law gov
erning naval warfare in using her sub
marines against merchant ships. So
long as /she lives up to this altered
policy we can have reason to quar-
rel with her on that score, though the
losses resulting from the violation Of
American rights by German submarine
commanders operating under the for
mer policy will have to be settled
Standing for Treaty Rights
while our differences with Great
cussion with Germany. it should be
sta tfu thdt IN our dealings WIN tne
British government we are acting, We
are unquestionably bound to act, in
view of the explicit treaty enga gements
with that government We have treaty
obligations to the manner in which
matters in dispute between the two
governments are to be handled. We
offered to assume mutually similar OBJ
legations with Germany, but the offer
was declined. When, however, the sub
iect in dispute is continuing menace
to American lives il is doubtful wheth-
er such obligations apply unless the
menace is removed during the pendency
of the proceedings"
The treaty with the British govern
nent referred to is the convention ne
eotiated by former Secretary Bryan un-
der which the two nations agree that
any dispute arising shall be submitted
to an investigating committee for one
year before entering into hostilities.
An offer to enter into such treaty for
Germany brought A request for infor-
nation. but formal negotiations never
were instituted.