The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-10
GERARD CONFIRMS
GERMANY'S DENIAL
Berlin Disclains Sussex At
tack and Justifies All Of
the Others.
INVITES MORE NOTES
Reply Indicates Willingness
INVITES MORE NOTES
Reply Indicates Willingness
to Curtail L Boat Operations
Under Compromise.

WASHINGTON. April s.-Ambassador
Gerard's reply from the German Foreign
Office on the submarine Issue mas at
last reached President Wilson.
AS expected, 1t is a general disclaimer
of all responsibility on tine part OF Ger
many for the attack on the Sussex.
Secretary Lansing described II to-night
az preliminary reply and not the oft-
cial answer 10 the information which
the United States is seeking from Ber-
lin. But it is understood that the IN
formation already received from Mr.
Gerard sets forth Germany's attitude as
clearly as can he expected.
Germany was not responsible for the
disaster to the Channel boat sussex: no
German submarine was near the place
at the time Germany was justified in
sinking the freghter Englishnan and
claims justification for sinking other
freighters engaged in aiding the enemy
these are described tonight as the
salient features OF Gcrmanys reply.
ReassertiOn Of Pledges.
They are accompanied BY the reasser-
tiou OF the pledges which Germany has
made to the United States not to sink
passenger ships without warning and
are interviewer with the usual express
sions OF good will toward America. do
sire for friendship with the United
States Government and expressed In
clinaton to come TO an amicable under
standing with the United states on
the bass of the present German prom
isee
In response to President Wilson'S in
sistence that American rights he pro-
tected. Germany calls his attention to
some technical differences between pas
scnger carrying ships and freighters. In
response to the Presidents insistence
that the princi pies OF humanity for which
he is fighting be recognized. Germany
invites him to look at the. whole matter
through German eyes.
The whole tenor Of Germanys attitude.
as described here, ~ to invite further
| friendly discussion and again bring the
crisis TO the note writing stage.
! There Is no indication tonight that the
| President has weakened in his decision
TO force an accounting with Germany on
the basis of the attacks on the Sussex.
the Englisnman. the Manchester Engi-
! neer the Eagle Point and the Berwin-
dale. The President has made II known
! that he would not resume his diplomatic
notes in dealing with the latest develop
rn.rts Of the submarine issue and there
| is nothing definite to show that he IS
]
/ In a measure Gerrnany's reply To the
Presidents representations has been an
Z tlcipated for nearly TWO weeks. tount
I Won EernstorN the German Ambassa-
dor. made il clear soon after the sussex
disaster that Germany attributed the
disaster to "a British mine rather than a
German submarine and there have beer
indications since that Berlin would deny
all responsibility in the Sussex cas-" and
,.,, ,,, M
Yet officials here have been somewhat
s,agp.red by the definite news that Ger
many contests all the points raised bs
President Wilson. Comment Tonight II
more reserved in official and White
House circles Oillcial Washington !:
waiting for the President 10 say whether
The Government will uphold its oriSlna
position or retreat.
II is admitted thar Germany ~ making
a particular effort to draw the Washing
ton Government into discussion Of ;
compromise or into diplomats arSumen
on questions OF fact. As one otiicia
expla !ned il. Berlin Is making the re
sumption of diplomatic notes almost
necessity unless the President adhere
to his decision not to discuss further th'
protection Of American lives,
The studied courteous tenor Of Fer
: Inns reply to Amha ssador Gerard is ais
regarded here n a bid for further pro
lonRed diplomatic exchanges. Germany
pledge not to sink without warning pas
scnger ships IL emphasized from Berlin
Ready to Go Further.
Mr. Gerard understands that German
, is not only ready to adhere TO thes
pledges but is perhaps disposed to &
, even further under certain c.rcum
stances This is construed 70 mean tina
Germany's submarine campaign can b
materially curtailed provided Grea
! Britain ceases its policy OF frying I
, starve out Germany"
, President Wilson is understood 10 no'
have "a standing offer from Berlin tha
submar rine activities will cease II he wi
persuade Great Britain and her allies I
lessen the rgors OF the blockade.
II was learned here tonight that III
= American liner ST Paul. which Is brinf
ing further evidence on the Sussex cas-
= to the state Department. will not reac
: New York until Thursday. The ship wa
4 expected to dock to-day, but her d.
D parture from Liverpool was delayed b
reports of German submarines in II
= vicinity OF her course.
Y As President Wilson is desirous
n getting all the evidence oil the SUISSE
n case before he makes his position publ
a II Is probable that no action will
I taken here before Friday, when, II Is q,
q plained, the Cabinet will probab
4 render its decision on the evidence.