Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-01
NO REPORT FROM GERARD
ON HIS VISIT TO KAISER
If German Reply Has Been Drafted,
Official Information on Sub
ject Is Lacking.
NEW PLAN MAY BE SUGGESTED
Offer to Have Submarines Operate
Only as Cruisers Against Enemy
Merchant Ships Reported as Being
Uudcr Consideration.

WASHINGTON. April 30.--Secretary
Lansing tonight had no new dis
patches from Germany bearing on the
submarine situation and said Ambas-
sador Gerard had not reported on his
conference with Emperor William. y
report from Mr. Gerard is expected
hourly
Information received tonight from
German sources Is to the effect that
the Berlin government has considered
reply to tho American demand, for Inn
mediate abandonment of present
mtthods OF submarine warfare WITH an
offer to have its submarines operate.
at least temporarily. only as cruisers
against enemy merchant ships. Ger
man officials arc said to have Expressed
themselves as being favorable toward
the plan. The State Department. SO
far as Is known, has no information
on the subject.
IF the German reply has been
drafted, official information on the sub
ject is lacking. That Il note will he
sent by Berlin in preference to In
structions to Count Won Bernstorff, the
German amha ssador, Is considered In
German quarters to be certain.
The American note calls upon Ger
many to Immediately declare and ef-
feet" an abandonment OF existing sub
marine practices. In German quarters
il is intimatcd that ii is quite pos
sible the Berlin government formal
ly will so declare and effect" and
qualify the action with a statement
that the declaration is to remain ef-
fcctive pending final agreement over
the principles involved. There is no
indication whether such action would
meet with tho approval OF the United
States.
NO DEFINITE INFORMATION
CONCERNING TIME OF REPLY
There is no definite information here
regarding the time when the reply may
be expected. It Is felt In diplomatic
and official quarters. however. that it
hardly will be received before the
middle of the week at the earliest.
One official. who has consistently
held to the view that break will be
avoided, made the significant state
complied with one OF the basic demands
of the American note.
The fact that there has not been
an official report OF a single subma-
rine attack involving American lives
or interests since the President dis
patched his note to Germany WAS evi-
dcnce. this official said. that Germany
has effected an abandonment" Of all
illegal submarine warfare
1t has been apparent tho last few
days that the administration has held
the view that Germany complied with
one of the Presidents demands nv
suspcnding the submarine campaign. in
which II had been engaged since
March |, This is believed tn account
Tor the administrations Willingness
TO give Germany ample time to reply
t" the note. although an Immediate"
reply was demanded at the time.
The tension apparent I'm Official cir.
cics immediately after the Presidents
note was sent to Germany has been
almost entirely relieved. The whits
House and state Department have re-
ccivcd adTiccs from Berlin of such en-
c"uraSing nature that they are con-
Nlncch Berlin wishes to avoid a hra.l,