The Detroit times., 1916-02-21
BY UNITED PRESS.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.--The sit
uatiOn In the Lusitania controversy
has been MADE az grave as It wAs
before the recent German conces-
sions, ~ q result Of Germany's issuri
ance of the armed merchantmen
proclamation. This was afiirmed BY
the state department today.
The possibility of crisis arising
over execution Of the German and
Austrian proclamation March 1, was
admitted by the department.
II may arrive, 1t was said, IL
American citizens are killed by the
sinking of Q merchantmen or by tho
indefinite postponement OF the Lusi-
tania settlement.
Ofhcials refused to discuss the
personal antagonism between Secre-
tary of State Lansing and German
Ambassador Won Bernstorff.
Il was said. however, that any
plAasF aecretAgy Lansing may hav4
Ia - mAtter ~will certainly Act -
invJA 20 the press befUsc he l1as o.
cursed them with the ambassador r
The next move by this gOvern-
ment depends upon the reply from
the Berlin foreign office to Ambassae
dor Won Bernstorff's last commune
ication, which explained that this
government still insisted on Ger
many's compliance with information
a law regarding the right Of ner-
chantmen to arm for defense.
Congress also promised to take
hand In the proceedings. Senator
Stone, chairman of the foreign rela-
lions committee, and Senator John
Sharp Williams. of Mississippi, ex-
pect 70 speak this week on the In
ternational situation, particularly
discussing the new reutonic decree.
and probably outlining In more de-
tail the administration's policy. Sew
eral Republican senators also are
planning speeches, and Berlin may
expect to see congress vigorously
backing up the president and state
department In opposing the admir-
atty order. t.
American Ambassador Gerard ID
expected to inform the state depart
ment early this week regarding Ber-
Inns reply to the informal informa-
tion given by the state department.
outlining this governments opposi-
ton to the admiralty order. Tho
most that Washington ohcialdom
Immediately expects is possible
postponement Of the German orders
effect. Omcials. however. hold little
hope oe such q postponement. II
has not been asked.
| II wns stated at the state depart.
ment today that Ambassador Bern.
storR had no appointment for the
week. Onicisls believe 1t will be
several days before Bernstorn II ad.
vised By his government OF its In
formal reply to the American repre-
sentations.
While there was little indication,
outwardly. OF increase in strained
relations between Secretary OF State
Lansing and German Ambassador
BernstorfY, their next meeting was
expected to develop o frank IL not
sharp discussion OF Lansings ex
treme irritation over what be re
CARDS improper propaganda" activi
l ties Of the German ambassador.
State department officials ex
q planned today probable causes O
I what officials here now regard ~
2 "Germany's blunder" In orderin(
: the campaign against armed msr
y chantmen. Although insisting teo1
the administration has NOT chaqecc
, its position regarding lessl Ho@S
, of ships to casry defensive arner
. ment. oflcials declare Germany
. Jumped ct Improper conclusions
from the American note to the ale
lies suggesting disarmament Of mer'
chant vessels, Ofncials declare Ger.
many went too far In constituting
this governments indication to the
allies OF belief in the "reasouahl4s
ness' of 0ermany's contention -
disarmament. II 10 stated that M
this move the United Stn1es, vQN
inclined to favor tint Cermnn Nlrr
(CsssinueA . paUe uou1
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