El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-20
ENVOY ANXIOUS
To AVOID BREAK
German Ambassador Hopes
There Will Be No Breach
With United States.

night "A long ulSDdIGn Interpreting AAA~
situation in Washington and making
certain recommendations. He is under
stood to have advised his government
that he believed the United states
meant just what it said in its subma-
rine note and that something would
have to be done quickly il friendly re-
lations were to continue.
No Comment on Note.
The ambassador, having read the ad-
dress of the president and the nole'
said:
Il can make no comment either upon
the address or upon the communication
which has been sent TO my govern
ment"
FayOrs Mediterranean Plan.
However, he was authoritatively de-
scribed as having advised the Berun
Foreign office in the message sent
Wednesday night that he believed at
least some such declaration as that
made regarding the conduct OF SUD
marine warfare in the Mediterranean
sea should be issued Immediately 10
cover all submarine operations.
The Mediterranean declaration was
handed to secretary Lansing by the
ambassador on January z. OF this year.
1t contained assurances much Droauer
in their scope than those given 70
cover the activities of submarines IN
the war zone around the British isles.
where Germany has contended from the
first that she was engaged in a cam
paign Of retaliation for. the British
blockade.
Only Cruiser Warfare.
The assurances were to the erect
that only a cruiser warfare would be
conducted against enemy merchant
shipping and that noncombatant ships
Of every character freight as well as
passenger carrying, would be accorded
proper warning and safety for their
passengers and crew. The assurances
rrn f1b huv crfr-a11 for the VIZ
around the British isles covered only
liners"
The declaration of January also
promised that Germany submarine
commanders who failed to obey the
assurances given would be punished
and that reparatiOn would be made for
deaths OF injury to American citizens.
German commanders operating in the
Mediterranean. il was said in the
declaration, which was ISSUED after the
steamship Persia had gone down, had
particular instructions to exclude such
measures of reprisal as were applied in
the war zone around the British isles.
Persons in close touch with affairs
of the German embassy quoted the am
bassadOr as saying:
II believe that some way will be
found to satisfactorily meet the posi-
tiOn OF the United States
May Not Send COnsuIs Home.
sular agents would be dismissed and
such American consular representatives
in Germany recalled, in case diplomatic
relations are severed. was discussed by
state department officials. 1t was
stated that a rupture would not neces-
sarily extend to cOnsuls, although Dip
lomatic custom generally included such
officials.
Explaining the expression in the
United Statess note regarding sever
ing relations altogether" it was off
cially stated that the word was used
to add emphasis to the note and also
indicate this governments intention to
make any break complete by the re-
call of its ambassador and consuls and
request the recall OF Germans diplO-
matte and consular officials.
Immediate Reply Impossible.
It was learned that German diplo-
mats regard the receipt Of a reply from
Germany within two or three days as
physically impossible. It was thought
a reply could not be received here be-
fore ten days. It was pointed out that
Easter Monday is a holiday in Ger
many and that necessary consultations
OF officials would cause almost an
other week to elapse before the Ger
man decision could be transmitted
here.