Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-24
ADvlCEs FROM GERARD
ENCOURAGING IN TONE
BernstorH to Confer With Lam
sing After Returning From
New York To-Day.
NO OFFICIAL WORD RECEIVED
Declaration Of Abandonment of Pres
ent Methods Necessary Before
Any Further Move.
, ,Snccial in Thc Timcs .nlsnntch.

Especial TO The Times D!spatch.l
WASllINGTON, April c3.--The belief
gained ground to-day that the German
government viii make a conciliatory
reply 10 the American demands for
abandonment Of illegal submarine war
fare.
Further official dispat ches from AM
ba:sahor Gerard. outlining The prelimi-
nary views Of ,hn Berlin Foreign OIllc.
after receipt OF tie American note. are
described as encouraging IN tone.
Code messages TO the German EN- :
hassy since the arrival OF the note in
Berlin arc also said to indicate that
Germany does not consider settlement
Of ,hc isaue hopeless.
Count Won BernstorT. the German
AMBASSADOR is scheduled to confer with
Secretary of State Lansing after re-
turning from New York Tomorrow.
The German ambassador. under in
$tructions from his government, is cx-
nature similar to those in progress
between Ambassador Gerard and For
cign Minister Won JaEow.
No Official word has come from Ber-
liz as to when the reply OF the Ger
state Department expects to receive
a reply. however. by the middlc or last
or this week
1. =. WILL FEEL OBLIGED
TO ENTER DISCl sSlON
There was almost unanimity of opin-
ion in official and diplomatic circles 70 .
day that the German government WIFI
ma Ike reply OF such character that tn @
state Department Will feel obliged to
enter discussion before taking final
action.
There was added belief that the ,c-
ply from Berlin will contain assur-
RANGES that Germany will conform 20
rules OF visit and search If enemy mtr-
chantmen will submit 10 visit ana
search without offensive Use OF guns
Il was definitely pointed out ny oT-
"iaiS to-day thai, while Germany IL
jus'ifed In ma king this or any other
counterproposal In replying TO the noto.
there must first como Il declaration
OF abandonment OF present submarine
warfare.
This Is declared TO lie a condition
precedent TO any discussion whatever.
on this point OF tho Presidents note
and message the State Department
IL prepared to stand firm
German embassy officials refused to-
day to discuss the Likelihood Of such
declaration from the Berlin govern
ment. They said with the greatest en-
phasis however, that Germany desIrvs
peace with the United States, and that
tho German government will not force
4 break in relations.
EMBASSY IN COMMUNICATION
WITH HOME GOVERNMENT,
Significance was given to these OFF,
cial embassy views. since the emba ssy
has been In constant communication
with the home government since tho
American note was dispatched The
inference drawn from the statement OF
German diplomatic officials is that Ger
many Will not hesitate TO assure the
United States OF it's intention to sus-
pend submarine operations until either
an understanding is reached with the
United States. or it is shown that moth
inG can be accomplished in that di-
rection.
IT was pointed out by a diplomatic
Official to-day that thcre have hecn 10
rerortcd cases OF submarine attack
since the new crisis arose between the
two governments over destruction OF
the Sussex and the sinking of the other
CONTINUED on Second Page.5