The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-24
BRINGS LIGHT
ON U BOAT PLEDGE
Secretary Of Berlin Embassy
Is Expected to Give Lansing
Important Facts.
HOME ON BRIEF LEAVE

wAsHiNGroN. May :s-The arrival Of
Joseph Clark Grew. Secretary OF the
American Embassy in Berlin. who ID
home on a brief leave Of absence. will
enable the United States Government to
obtain detailed first hand information
concerning conditions In Germany about
which official reports have been more or
less conflicting. MIR. Grew Is expected
to see Secretary Lansing this week.
Although nothing outside Of personal
considerations prompted Mr.. Crews re-
turn TO the United States. It Is said at
the state Department that he will be In
a position to supply information which
the Department for weeks has been en-
deavoring to obtain.
The United States Is particularly inter-
ested to know whether Germany Is
really determined TO scrupulously OBJ
serve its pledge TO abandon illegal sub
marine warfare or whether the present
lull Is only temporary and conditional
upon abandonment Of the British block
ade.
This Government also is DESTROYS OF
knowing what the economic conditions
In Germany are. whether the blockade
and consequent food shortage are as
seriously affecting the populace as re-
ported from some quarters. Mr.. Grew
is expected 10 be in a position TO throw
light on the persistent suggestions for
peace which are emanating from Berlin
and to explain whether they are prompted
by the effect OF the blockade or by other
considerations
The State Department also will have
an opportunity to 90 over the situation
concerning Americans now in Germany.
Advance arrangements for getting them
nome tS " - aN, kNAsp
made tentdH' -. but at the time OF the
last crisis there were many unsolved
problems in this connection. The en-
bassy a. Berlin was bcsieged by Amer
leans who were without funds. and Am
bassador Gerard had no money at his
disposal 20 help them.
Other questions which II IL said Mr..
Grew will discuss are the difficulties
confronting Americans in business in
Germany on account of tho holding up
Of the mails by the Entente. the delays
attendant upon the Department Official
communications TO Ambassador Gerard
and the Ambassadors replies. In a
] general way. the yar.ou questions which
4 Ambassador Gerard is taking up for the
Government probably will be gone over.
including the request from the Depart
ment for Information concerning the
punishment meted out to Lieut.. Stein
Drink, submarine commander, VINO tor
pedoed the Sussex.
Mr.. Grew. II ts explained, has had 4
busy and exciting time in Berlin since
the outbreaks OF the war. The day that
war with Great Britain was declared he
was rous.d from his home at midnight IN
response to appeals from a score OF
American and English newspaper corre-
sponients arrested at the Hotel .Adlon as
spies.
The German authorities refused all
explanations until Mr.. Grew arrived
in haste at the hotel and demanded the
immediate release Of the Americans
When this was refused Mr.. Grew said
he himself would remain with the Ansri-
cans until the matter was settled. There
upon the authorities permitted all OF the
correspondents to go.
The state Department. will learn from
Mr.. Grew III. details OF the visit Of
Ambassador Gerard 20 Emperor Will
lam at grand army headquarters. Cabl.
reports Incorporating the Emperor
message Of friendship for the United
States have been received already from
MIR. Gerard. but a comprehensive report
SO far has been lacking