The Washington times., 1916-04-10
Berlin Believed to Enter Plea Of
Not Guilty Of Recent Sub
marlnings.
LANSING RECEIVES DISPATCH
Bernstorff, Hurrying to WASH
ington, Wires for Conference
With Lansing.

Developments in the relations be-
tween the United states and German;
are rapidly drawing to a climax.
Germany is believed to have entered
a plea OF not guilty on all counts in
the indictment which circumstances
have raised against her in connection
with the recent destruction Of British,
French, and neutral merchant ships in
the war zone.
The United States 10 still convinced
that German submarines were respolS
Bile for these tragedie, In some Of whicn
American citizens narrowly escaped be-
ing numbered among the dead.
Scraps of Paper.
Germany, II Is believed. is prepared
to resent the imputations contained In
the inquiries of Ambassador Gerard
at Berlin that she has failed to live
up to her past assurances to the
United States.
The evidence accumulating In the
state Department Is said by Admin
istration officials to point but one
way-that Germany has broken her
promises, and has made Of her past
assurances mere scraps of paper.
The issue Is likely to be drawn this
week. with consequences that Eravey
threaten a severance In the diplomatic
relations between the countries.
Secretary Of state Lansing confirmed
TODAY the report that he has rece we'd an
important dispatch from Ambassador
Gerard. dealing with the German posi-
ton in the controversy. Included in the
cableRram was the statement that the
German foreign office would present to
replying to his Inquiries.
Whether In this note Germany replies
merely to the inquiries In connection
with the case of the Channel steamer
sussex. or answers the inquiries made
IN connection with all the recent cases
In which the United States ls inter-
ested: is not indicated.
Press reports from Berlin in the last
TWO or three days have plainly indi-
Gated. with what appears to have been
ofncial German sanction, that Germany
VIII either deny responsibility in all
these cases. or. denying 1t in the case
or the Sussex alone. hold that with re-
gard to the other ships destroyed
freighters. principaily-her past assur-
ances were not concerned.
Reach Crucial Point.
Officials of the Administration admit
that the exchanges have reached a
crucial point.
; II, as Is expected. Germany denies
responsibility in the case OF the Sussex.
which Is the principal one In issue, the
american Government will face the
prospect of accepting Germany's word
In .ace OF all proofs to the contrary,
OF. ~ disputing her word imply inten-
tional deceit.
AT the present there Is no disposition
TO turn back. But there is a strong dis
inclination to take any action until ali
the evidence is In. For that reason MOTH
Ing viii be done until the additional af-
ndavits In the Sussex case arrive in New
York on the liner st. Paul, and are
carefully examined at the State Depart
ment.
Bernstorff Hastens Back.
II these afridavits corroborate all that
has come before in the way Of proofs,
II Is strongly probable that within the
next week or ten days President Wilson
VIII 90 before Congress and inform that
body that. diplomacy having failed 10
obtain respect for the rights of Amcri-
can citizens, continuation of diplomatic
relations would seem to be out OF the
question.
Count Won Bernstorff, the German
ambassador, Ia hurrying to Washing
ton from New York. He wire Secretary
Lansing this morning requesting per-
mission to call on him Immediately
after his train reaches Washington
The request has been granted. although
the hour OF the conference is not
known.
Recalling what happened when the
negotiations over the Arabic case last
September appeared to have reached
possible that the ambassador may have
received instructions which will enable
him to stave or break In the present
instance.