Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-02
RELATIONS WITH BERLIN
ASSUME GRAVE ASPECT
President Wilson's Uttcrances Cause
New and Delicate Situation to
Arise I'm Germany.
PUZZLED BY HIS REMARKS
Growing Suspicion That America
Wants War-EXpccted That u. $.
Would Deal vigorously With Eng
land for Freedom OF Seas.
BY AUGUSTINE T.. BEACH.


BERLIN. February ,wireless Via
Sayville) After being apparently set
tied 10 the satisfaction OF both govern
ments. the sinking of the Lusitania
once more looms on the horizon OF
international tranquility to disturb to
the straining point the relations be
tween tn" United States and Germany.
Until yesterday the feeling prevailed
In Germany that the matter Of the
Lusitania AS an element Of friction had
become "a thing OF the past. The Ger
mans. however sure they may have
been Of the justice of the deed as meas
urcd by rights and principles. have
never been proud OF sinking the Gu
harder with the attendant loss OF neu-
trail lives. IT may be said with abso-
Lutte and unqucstioned authority that
Germany was thankful when announce
ment wis made that the conseqcnt con-
tro"eray with America had been adtud!-
Gated by the German government agree
Ing 10 mako full reparation for tho
neutral losses entailcd In tho ships
destruction. that IS. as full rcparation
as was possible where the loss Of
human lives was nvolvcd.
Suddenly. to-day. a new situation OF
immense gravity exists
GERMANS ARE PUZZLED
OVER WILSON'S SPEECH
Yesterday came news OF hitch in
inc negotiations and, 10 compiicate
matters. press reports OF an address
By President Wilson in which he de-
ciared. or MAS reported 10 have de-
clared. tina, tho United States mug, be
prepared for war ,2-,norrow-not the
day after Tomorrow. but tomorrow.
According to reports that reached
Germany. the President made it clear
mat he vas not using rgu:e Of
speech, but was speaking Of war a.
a possible pending actually
The attitude OF the German Empire
hs expressed b. the best thought OF
its people ma. be said TO he one Of
bew ildcrment, not get Of aggressive
hostility. but OF puzzled wonderment
a. 10 the motives OF t,.- United states
Tho German government. as an
nounccd some time ago accepts the
views OF the United States IL regard 10
tn" I.usitania, and met the American
demands. Rcparatiou was promised.
Since that time what was supposed 10
De tn" concluding negotiations have
been in progress But what is more
important in the German mind. is the
fact that in the meantime the Berlin
American idea of properly restricted
suhrnarirc warfare ia practice as well
as IN theory. There has been no loss
of American lives to be laid to n Ger
man submarine The Ancoua was sunk
hut the archives of the United states
state Department hold correspondence
with Austria toward settlement OF that
disaster.
BELIEVE AMERICA WANTS
WAR WITH GERMANY
Thus. for the first time in the diplo-
matte history OF this war, one nation
Is meeting the demands of another ma
ton In actual practice without being
all" 10 satisfy that other nation.
The German government naturally
accepted the American theory, else IL
would have been unwilling to forego
tho form OF submarine warfare to
which the United states objected. hut
now Il seems that although Germany
is acting accordingly TO American
rules. tho theory hy which she does so
is no; quite sufficiently exact. The
whole trouble seems TO come from the
fact that the United States wishes
Germany 10 declare that She feels her
self obligated to make PREPARATION for
tho loss OF the LusitanIa rs we'll as 10
rcpUdlatc the sinking and 20 promise
that such actions Will not he repeated.
Hence the German bcwiidermcnt, and,
what is more important. the rapidly
growing suspicion OF tho motives of
the American government throughout
the German empire. In the streets to-
day Germany is asking. "ls il possible
after all tho United States wants war
with Germany" What else can this
mean"
SITUATION IS Regarded
As GRhNEI.I DELICATE;
Everywhere this question is linked
with tho Wilson statement OF yester
day warming the United States that
war is an immediate possibility ana
must be prepared for.
II the feeling Of the German empire
can be judged by the statements OF
it's citizens and the expressions OF the
press. the situation is gravely deli
cate.
The Increased daring Of Great Bril-
tain during the last few weeks in it's
interference with American commerce
and mails is squirting on the German
suspicion of the Washington admins
tration Neither in practice nor in
theory does the British government
seem to he seriously concerned with
the American demands that American
commerce be left To it's rightful place
on the high seas. Even the American
mails have lost the protection which,
as sacred institution, they have re-
ceived in the past. During the last
few days American newspapers dis
posed to be neutral in their editorial
,policy. have arrived in Berlin with
the editorial pages carefully cut out.
ALLEGED VIOLATIONS ARE
CHARGED TO ENGLAND
The physical needs OF humanity have
no rights and place in any nations
list OF war contraband, least of all
the needs of a neutral humanity. Henry
Jrord is building Il great hospital in
Detroit To equip the hospital Ii was
found necessary to purchase quantities
Of surgical instruments in Germany.
This was done. but the instruments
must remain in Holland because the
british government will not permit
the shipment to the United states. In
holland also rcposed quantities OF
serum badly needed in America. but
which cannot he sent out. because Great
britain will not permit II. Other SINH
lar violations of neutral rights could
no enumerated to no end. They are
all important rs showing the apparent
subugation OF American and other neu-