Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-05-14
EACH nation HOLDS
THE OTHER ON TRIAL
Germany Doubts True Neu-
trality of United States
but Progress Is Being
Made Toward Creation of
a Better Feeling.
BY Robert J. Bender.

Omitted Press Staff Correspondent
Washington. May 13.-For the FIRST
time in many weeks administration Of
ficials tonight locke upon the Ger
man American situation with q sense
of genuine security.
The relief felt as result OF inter
national developments of the week
was shown by the fact that the presi-
dent has left Washington for a week
end down the Potomac so Secretary of
War Baker found it unnecessary to
remain at his desk and Secretary Lam
sing together with other officials went
fishing.
The fundamental difficulty in the
German American situation 10 lodged
in the belief OF each nation that the
other is on trial Germany doubts the
true neutrality OF the United States.
The United States has been skeptical
OF the good faith behind Germany'e
pledges.
Notable Relaxation.
On both these points there has been
notable relaxation in the last few
days. Progress toward better feeling
was seen today in a dispatch to the
United Press from Carl w. Alderman
at The Hague detailing a new attitude
manifest in German official circles to-
ward the United States. Two portions,
OF the Alderman dispatch were pointed
to with particular interest by officials
here. First OF these is Germany's de-
termination to convince the United
States that her government is In no
way sympathizing with so-called pro-
German propagandists," in this eoun-
try. The report that conferences have
been going on for some time in Berlin
with the object In view of squelchinR
Teutonic propagandists in this coun-
try and anti ti-American propagandists
in Germany was read with obvious
satisfaction.
The German embassy was particu-
iarly interested and pleased over to-
days developments. 1t was said the
contemplated action by Germany
should be interpreted as further ex-
preston of Germany's intention to do
everything possible to prevent a rup-
ture of German American relations.
Praise for Gerard.
The other feature of the dispatch
which created great interest here was
the report that Ambassador Gerard is
receiving much praise in Berlin for the
manner in which he worked through
the recent crisis to convince Germany
that what President Wilson wanted
was not war but a strict adherance by
Germany to the pledges IL has made.
Co-incident with this IL is noted that
the newspapers of Germany have
practically ceased their arraignment
of President Wilson for "unfairness''
in dealing with the different belliger-
ents. There remains. of course, the
danger of some u boat commander at
tacking by mistake a vessel which the
United States holds not subject to
fire. Unofficial reports. however, say
the new orders to submarine COM
II they be printed, would
the most skeptical that Ger
many Is as much concerned as the
United States In preventing accidents
in the future"
The. relief over international affairs
was extended today to negotiations
with Great Britain. The state depart
ment received a formal expression of
regret over the seizure by British
naval officers of 3S Germans and Aus
-rians from the American steamer
China. The communication from the
British foreign office was held tanta-
10 an admission of the iiiegality
of the seizure.