Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-05-05
Washington Waiting.

Washington, May 4.-Germany's re.
ply to the demands OF the United
States for immediate abandonment Of
present methods of submarine war.
fare. delivered to Ambassador Gerard
today, was awaited by officials of the
Washington government tonight with
expectant attention. They were with
out any idea Of the contents Of tho
communication. A brief message
from Ambassador Gerard, as we'll az
press reports, have created the I'M
preston that the imperial govern
ment would propose conditions which
the United States could not accept.
1t was reiterated that the president
stood unalterably by the demands in
the note, that abandonment of the
present submarine policy must be de-
clared and effected Immediately. This
demand was designed to permit or
no arguments and how officials re-
peatedly have asserted that anything
short Of a literal compliance would
be followed by diplomatic rupture.
The official copy of the note hardly
will reach Washington before t0mOr-
row night, but the document was Civ
en- to the press in Berlin late tonight
| and the official text was expected to
reach the United States tomorrow
morning. ,stse
Text Not Clear. ,5 i
Ambassador Gerards message was
sent before he had examined the note
itself. Its meaning was not entirely
clear because of errors in transmits
sion of the diplomatic cipher.
Secretary Lansing declined to com.
ment on the message or make it pub.
lie, for he feared it was garbled,. or
that Mr.. Gerard, not having seen the
note itself, might have made inaccu-
rate deductions. Furthermore, the
ambassador had indicated that his
message must be regarded as being
highly confidential. 81, ...-..s.
Secretary Lansing sent the dispatch
to the White House for the informa-
tion of President Wilson. At the same
time, an effort was made to have the
errors of transmission corrected 1t
appeared tonight. however, that tho
contents Of the note would be known
before the corrections could be made.
Officials gave especial attention to
press dispatches, saying that the Ger
man chancellor would have the Ger.
man public behind him in order to
avoid a break with the United States
$50 far as can be done without sac.
rificing the principle enuhciated in
Maintain Position.
The position of the United States
is that merchant ships have right
to arm themselves for defensive pur.
poses and so long as armament was
carried and used for defensive pur-
poses, the ship should receive the
same treatment as other peaceful
trading ships. This position was re-
stated and elaborated upon in mem.
orandum on the subject prepared by
Secretary Lansing, at the direction Of
President Wilson, and only a few days
after the dispatch of the note to Ger
Europe, neutrals as we'll as belliger.
ents.
Some officials tonight found hope
full indication in press dispatch
which stated that considerable per-
turbation was apparent in Berlin over
the effect which Concessions" to be
made might have on German public
opinion. is
President Wilson and Secretary
Lansing prepared to remain. up late
tonight, to see the unofficial text Of
the reply carried in press dispatches.
but abandoned the idea. when 1t be.
came known that the dispatches
would not be available before morn.
ing. A special corps of operators was
kept on duty at the state department
to receive the official text, though at
midnight word had not come from
Ambassador Gerard that he was ready
to start the document.