Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-20
ANOTHER ILLEGAL BLOW
WOULD CAUSE BREAK
from PAGE One

Continued from PAGE Ono
Britain, and we believe we have a right to
use them. but we are willing to give them
up rather than break with the United
States We are willing to conduct our
warfare under the rules of international
law. Can the President ask anything
more OF us and still claim to be neutral?
REPLY EXPECTED IN SEVERAL DAYS
1t is not expected that a reply from
Berlin can be received for several days,
Administration officials suggest that an
answer should come by the end OF the
week, but in German circles this is secuted.
Such an answer could only be a curt re-
fasaI. it is said The German belief is
1fiaf II wifi take at least two weeks to
give the subject proper consideration and
prepare and transmit reply. At the
State department 1t was said that this
-<ssalild hardly be considered "immediate"
IL In the meanwhile illegal operations We're
continued
The United States has acted alone in the
crisis, IL is learned. Copies of the note
have been sent TO other neutrals in ad-
vance of the printed copies which go by
routine to all foreign representatives here.
hut there has been no official consultation
with them, nor has the State Department
any official information as to their at
titude Copies of the note will be sent to
the beIligerents' representatives in due
course.
The note. It lisp ointed out by a high
official, constitutes a return of the United
states 10 the position it assumed in the
first Lusitania note. and later abandoned.
n that note the United States held that
snbnaar1ne warfare against commerce
could not be carried ON without violation
af aaairal rights. This position was later
abandoned. In the note of July 81. when
ne appearance OF submarines with guns
hAd convinced the Administration that
such vessels could exercise the usual
methods OF visit and search
ATTITUDE AGAIN CHANGED.
IN that note Mr Lansing said:
'arhe events OF the last two months have
clearly indicated that IL is possible and
practically to conduct such submarine
nard wiki the accepted practices of regu-
lated warfare"
4sinee then,s the official declared, 'it
has become apparent that he gal use OF
.-...>.-sesls.ss- against commerce Is impFaes
I|zahIs. ana We have gone back to our
.zzz.nal position
ADMINISTRATION officials are careful to
neIHz ouI that break in relations does
zaE nseeasarily mean war Will follow.
They say that the action Of the United
IaIes vii constitute warning 10 Ger
zH1 and that she viii be more care
II the future. Against this stands
-. z#IzHEzz ll91la IfQIn sfeffn4H sources fHal4
7 he desire 70 mainlain friendly rela-
LIS Hifn the United States removed,
zIsEHanT viii prosecute her submarine
warfare even more ruthlessly. and will
sea pie up 50 many causes OF friction
- = make war certain They also de-
zIaHz IHa1 ii the past the breaking OF re-
zzIazzz between nations mas almost al
Hazs ozen followed b Har.
zAs aaeslion OF whether the country Is
zsaa4 q support the Presidents drastic
|zzs3s asainst Germany Was frequently
azaaaaz uu IN the discussion which fol-
|a#za - aneeeh. Thaf he NilI have the
Hee4z 41 coneress seems ceftain--too
- - 8zzabzEs SIN are sore over tie
- a##f Hzeof8 which Haa anellad II the
4Ia HzI1 Haf faH believe that ths
4.azs 3 HabIIE apIfzon saeai thai
@zHz EEHHE aH
@ H - 4zI aza