South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-05-03
PreS't Wilson Said to Hold 0p-
timiStiC RumOTS as PrOpa-
ganda to Influence Senti-
ment For Arbitration.
MAY ASK GERARD TO
INSIST ON ACTION
Unless Note is Forthcoming
Within Few Days AmbaSSa-
dor Will be Instructed
to Demand Answer.
lnternatIonaI 90 servIce

international News Service:
WASHINGTON. May Two al
most irreconcilable viewpoints on
the German submarine controversy
we're given utterance in official
circles today The first. coming di-
rectIy from source closest to Pres't
Wilson. was as follows:
The president is greatly dissais-
red over the German delay in send
ing its reply TO his ultimatum. lie
sees evidence OF a widespread propa-
ganda in newspaper dispatches from
Berlin that Germany is making great
concessions 20 paCify the United
states. while at the same time there
has not come direct 10 either the
white house or the state department
"a single official intimation that Ger
many will accept the position of the
United States in it's entirety These
dispatches. the president is stated To
hold. are designed TO influence senti-
ment throughout the United States
in favor OF submitting the questions
which under no circumstances the
president will sanction
Teutonic View.
The second. coming from Teutonic
quarters, said:
There will be no break between
the United States and Germany. Pri-
vate advices reaching here Indicate
that Germany has about decided TO
change her entire method of srhma-
rine warfare 10 conform with inter-
national law. A proposal of arbitra-
ton OF details for the use of suhma-
rines as cruisers: requests that the
United States insist on Germany's
enemies also obeying existing laws i'm
conducting their blockades, and re-
opening the accepted position of he
United States on the armed ~ err
chantmen situation. viii also he re-
quested by Germany in its announce
ment that it has accepted the United
states demands for an abandonment
of its present methods of submarine
warfare"
Officials were very insistent in
their statement that if the German
reply Is involved and savors OF bar
gaining IL will promptly bee rejected
lbs the president. SO serious does the
latter consider the stu uion that he
summoned Col. r. N. House To this
city for a conference and the latter
today is a white house guest
Expected Early Reply.
When the German note was dis
patched on April Is the president
went before congress and outlined
.fra
from Germany was expected before
the end of the week. But two weeks
and a day have passed and still there
IS no word whatever from Berlin de-
spite the numerous newspaper dis
patches all of which are optimistic.
The president had expected definite
action one way or the other hy the
anniversary of the sinking of the
I.usitania, which VIII be sunday 1t
was intimated in administration
circles today that there viii not be
much further time lost ON the mat
ter. II word does not come from
Ambassador Gerard that the reply
is on the way within a very Short
time il is expected that the president
will send instructions 10 the amhas-
sador 20 press for an immediate am
swer-
Administration circles were insist
ent today that 80 far as this govern
ment was concerned the issues are
already 50 clearly outlined that
there can be mo- misJakins them. The
United States already has asserted
that the question Of the rights OF its
citizens 10 travel wherever they
pleased on the high seas secure In the
protection of international law was
one OF national honor and nm no way
subject 20 arbitration. The president
has declared i'm several different
WAYS that there can be no changing
OF the rules OF the game while the
game Is IN progress. Because of this
he refused 90 warn Americans not
e. travel on armed merchant ships
" here the armament was designed
simply FOR defensive purposes. While
suggesting on three occasions
nodus ViNendi between the selliger-
ents 10 mitigate the horrors of war.
ne has refused 90 press his PROPOSE
tions when it became evident thar
some % the parties were unwilling
10 consider the matter. Because OF
this. 10 is asserted the president will
not consider any reply from Ger
many which does not specifically
and with fnaIty accept the United
states viewpoint on the submarine
1ss2e.