The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-05-06
If Wilson Decides Reply Is
Unsatisfactory, Will De-
clare Break at Once
OFFICIAL TEXT
OF NOTE AWAITED
Break Is Unlikely Now I'm
less New Orders Are
Violated

Washington, May 6.-President Wilson
and the cabinet went carefully over th'
German note as transmitted in news dis
patches from Berlin.
When the cabinet meeting broke III
Secretary Lansing met all inquiries with
this reply:
Il cannot discuss it at all at this
time"
While final decision on the attitude
OF the American government waits on
the official text, some cabinet members
indicated that the German assurances
probably would be accepted and that dip
lomaMc relations would not be broken
unless the order to submarine comman-
ders was violated and American lives en-
dangered.
So much depends upon words and their
shades OF meaning involved in transla.
ton from German to English that no de-
cision can be attempted until the Off
cial text is in the presidents hands.
Two views were current in official cir
cles. One was that Germany has de-
clared her intention of abandoning her
present methods of submarine warfare"
as demanded by the president, and that
the American government might have
TO wait to see whether the abandonment
will be effected.
The other was that the United States,
having already attempted to have Great
Britain give up its interference with
neutral commerce and having told Ger
many that it cannot discuss with her its
negotiations with Great Britain, has no
course but to break diplomatic rela tions
with Germany.
While the general tone of the German
note created an unfavorable impression,
officials took the position that the lam
guage was immaterial if the guarantees
were real.
Germany's declaration that she has is
sued new orders to submarine comman-
ders not to attack without warning |
merchant vessels recognized by inter
national law" was considered the chief |
point. The German view of merchant |
vessels as defined in its declaration of /
Feb s of its purpose to sink armed ships |
without warning and the American view
as defined in the armed ship memoran-
dunn made public recently differ in sew
eral points.
Some officials believed that for this
reason the controversy had now come
to the point where Germany's future
action would determine the course OF the
United States.
The refusal of the German government
to openly admit the attack on the Sus-
sex was considered only incidental to
the main issue.
Until President Wilson himself decides
whether the German note is acceptable
there will be no announcement of the
attitude of the government.
No action will be taken until the off
cial text of the note has arrived and
been studied by the president and Sec
rotary Lansing. The president has al.
ready discussed with his cabinet the
steps to be taken in case the note was
found to be unsatisfactory. 1t was gen ,
orally expected that whatever action is
taken by the American government prob
IDLY will come on Sunday.
The president has already informed 7
congress of his intention to break rela-
ions with Germany in case her reply is
and therefore it is be-
ieved he has decided not to 20 before n
congress again before taking the action. s.
1t is known that the German embassy
Jew is that the note is all for which CT
he United States asked, that it signal =,
yes return to what has been termed
cruiser warfare"-that is, the operation
+ submarines as cruisers interceptiDg =
with visit and search. The t'
mbassy view is that inasmuch as no Sc
lention was made in the note of tie 81
uestion of armament it is not compli-
ating feature. .