Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-04
BREAK OF BRYAN
CAUSE OF DELAY
President Says it Took Months to
Convince Germany United States
Was in Earnest.
STATUS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS

WASHINGTON, March 3.-Presi-
dent Wilson's position on the inter
national situation as revealed further
today was that he had told congress
sionAl leaders II was months after
the resignation Of former Secretary
Bryan before the United States gov
ernment could convince Germany
that this nation was in earnest in its
position on submarine warfare.
The president is understood 20 have
mentioned this fact 70 show his belief
that action by congress would further
weaken the position OF the United states
abroad He IL understood TO have told
the leaders that charges that he wanted
TO get the United States into war were
entirely disproved by his attitude during
the last two years. He endured ieers
and ridicule. he said. because OF his ef-
forts TO maintain peace. lie is under
stood 10 have declared that he has al
WAYS been willing TO do anything except
sacrifice honor IN order to maintain the
United States at reaee.
At the same time the president de-
clared he did not sec how tho United
states could do anything but sever dip
Iomatic relations with any nation which
killed Americans In violation OF Inter-
national law.
Lansing and BernstOrff.
While both Secretary Lansing and
Count Won Bernstorff. the German am
bassador, have natly declined 10 com
ment upon the statements regarding the
possibility Of war attributed TO Presi-
dent Wilson by Senator Gore and later
denied by the White House. II was
learned today that mention Of the result
OF a break OF diplomatic relations had
been discussed quito casually and infor-
mally by the secretary and the amnas-
sador late I'm January OF this year
According 10 authoritative Information
the discussion came at time when Sec
retary Lansing Informed the ambassador
exactly what kind of a communication
from Germany would settle the LuSitanla
case In a manner satisfactory to the
United States.
The ambassador Il said TO have in
formed Mr. Lansing that he believed his
government might change some OF the
expressions used in the document which
the secretary had indicated would be ac-
ceptable. They agreed that the ambassa-
dor should sumbn the document TO his
government and sec what changes Il
would suggest, which the Ambassador did.
At the same time. quite informablly, he
is understood TO have asked the secre-
tary what he thought would be the uiti-
mate result should Germany fail TO meet
the requirements OF the United States.
Kaiser Hopes 90 Avoid Crisis.
Secretary Lansing. II is said. told the
ambassador that in event OF a complets
disagreement on the subject. tho United
States might be Obliged to break off dip
iomatic relations. The ambassador is re
ilabiy represented as having replied tina
he fully understood the View OF the sec
retary and 10 have added the hope tina
nothing OF the kind ever would occurr.
The ambassador pointed out that wit
diplomatic relations severed there woul
be no agency by which the enthusiasm
OF naval commanders could be held 4
check and that some circumstances wa
almost certain TO occur TO lead to hos
illities. The ambassador also Ia repre-
sented as having pointed out that IN
notifications tn the conduct OF aubma
rine warfare. made since the beginnin
OF the war, had been solely on accour
OF regard for the wishes OF the Unite
states.
The authority from whom this infoi
nation was obtained said Il should i
understood that tho ambassador was onl
expressing his own personal apinlons an
that tho conversation with Becretar
Lansing was absolutely informal and ne
to be regarded as significant OF anything