New-York tribune., 1916-02-21
Grave Alarm Felt as
Tension Grows,
Awaiting Reply.
BERNSTORFF NOT
LIKELY TO GO
Lansing Denies He Will
Ask Recall of the
Ambassador.

from The Tnburs Bureau
Washington, Feb. 90 Official
Washington Is tonight plainly wor-
ried. Secretary Lansing's proposed
sea code has knotted tangle which |
apparently cannot be cleared, and /
tension between the United States
and the Teutonic Allies is steadily |
increasing.
The only way out Of the difficulty |
is backdown by Germany. Officials
hope that Berlin will modify her or
der to sink all armed merchantmen. 1
Official indication of the attitude OF
the German Foreign Office may be |
received tomorrow or Tuesday IN
confidential reports from Anbsssa-
dor Gerard.
That the sea code question has
caused friction between Count Won
Bernstorff and Secretary Lansing is
certain. The German diplomats, it is
felt, have been using the press to
serve their ends and oivulging infor-
nation and issuing reports which
embarrassed the administration.
Won't Ask Recall.
Secretary Lansing denied to-day
that there was any present intention
of asking for Count Won Bernstorff's
recall, az tie acceptability of the
ambassador had not been called into
question. But at the State Depart
ment il Is said that unless diplomats
stop divulging information the de-
rartment may take into considera-
lion the question OF having them
withdrawn, although such action is
not contemplated at present.
These developments have led to the
conclusion that an attempt had been
made to saddle the blame for the re-
versal of the Administration stand on
Ambassador Won Bernstorff. That St
tempt, it is said, failed. Now President
Wilson will have to take the blame for
this country's flop" il was generally
admitted in Administration circles to-
day.
II is true that many Administration
officials have expressed great irritation
at what they term Count Won Bern
storffs' improper newspaper propagsn-
ds. In the main. however, they are
ready to admit that he had nothing 20
do with creating the impression thas
President Wilson reversed himself on
the armed merchantman question.
That impression came from the pub
licstion Of Secretary Lansing's modus
vivendi note to the Allies. which cor
tained direct threat that IL they
would not voluntarily disarm thei.'
merchant vessels the United States
might declare such ships 20 be war
ships. After the publication of that
note Germany issued the declaration
that armed vessels would be sunk with
out warning, believing that the United
States could not avoid carrying out the
threat il had made to the Allies.
Threat to Allies Withdrawn.
A few days later the Administration
announced that the threat had been
withdrawn; that. as Great Britain and
her Allies had indicated their intention
TO reject the modus vivendi this gov
ernment had no choice" but TO con
tinue upholding international law.
The flop" was complete before AM
bsssador Won Bernstorff had had q
chance to say word TO the press. H.
is therefore admitted 10 be impossible
TO accuse him of creating the impges-
sion" that the President had reversed
his position.
What administration officials still
maintain. however, is that Ambassador
Won Bernstorf actusted his govern
ment 20 make the new submarine an
nouncement, and that in so doing he
thought he had tied the hands OF the
United States. lie was plainly attempt
ing, they say, to force a Settlement OF
the Lusitania case that woulel ieSye =
President Wilson in an ingloriopy pds>T
tion.
So far, the charges against the am
bassador are believed to be substan-
tiated IL is known that Ambassador
Won Bernstorf instigated the Foreign
Office TO announce that. after February
20. armed merchantmen would be sunk
WtIniHk. nut II 10 hnONUs Nlccs
that Secretary Lansing was aware %
Germsny's intention TO do this before
ne sent the modus vivendi proposals 10
the Allies.
What has not been explained is the
Presidents reason for sending the mo-
dus vivendi note just when he did.
Tie reason given-the desire 10 save
lives-hsd existed since the beginning
Of Germany's submarine attacks. and
could have been argued more force
fully before the Lusitania case came.
TO a head than during the negotiations
that seemed about TO dispose of that
issue.
Presidents Course Pulling.
IL seemed strange. therefore. that
the President should attempt to bring
the belligeren,s 70 an agreement on j,
question which was At that moment
agitating both Berlin and Washington,