Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-07
OFFICIAL. VERSION
OF GERMAN REPLY
BEFORE PRESIDENT
Found to Be Almost Identi.
cal With Text Already
Published.
EXECUTIVE DiSPlEASED
WITH LANGUAGE USED
Opinion Divided as to Whether
Answer to Note Is
Required.
DECISION RESTS WITH WILSON
Berlin Probably Will BE Given
Chance to Demonstrate Good
Faith of Assurances.

WASHINGTON, May e.-The proba-
Germany has been averted. at least
temporarily, was strengthened to-day.
when the official text of the German
note laid before President Wilson and
Secretary Lansing was found to be al
most identical with the unofficial ver-
sion published yesterday.
Officials had indicated that should tho
official text bear out the unofficial ver-
sion, they thought it improbable dipto-
matte relations would have TO be sew
cred. unless further attacks on mer-
chant ships violated the new pledges.
Disappointmcni has been indicateds
however, over certain features of the
German reply, and some Nigh officials
believe that it at least cannot be ac-
cepted unconditionally.
Opinion as TO whether the note re-
qures an answer seems divided. De-
cision rest with the President. who SO
far has not indicated to any one his
final Judgment in the matter.
1t is entirely possible that no reply
Will be sent for the present at least,
and that the President will maintain
complete silence for n time, allowing
Germany to demonstrate the good faith
of her intention to carry out the policy
indicated in her new orders to sub
marine commanders.
Although the President realizes that
the promises given are the cardinal
elements of the note, he IS understood
to be displeascd over the language used
and the conditions apparently attached.
NOT TO SEVER RELATIONS AS
Long AS ORDERS ARE OBSERVED
should the note be accepted as satis-
factory, and IL reply sent, 1t is expected
TO take the form of n notification ta
Germany that the United States
decided not to sever diplomatic. re.
lations as long as the new submarine
orders remain effective and are OBJ
served.
Secretary Lansing left Tonight to
! spend the Weekend at Annapolis, taxi
ing with him an official copy OF the
German note. He expects to have fully
digested its statements by the time OF
his return on Monday.
Persons close to affairs at the White
House to-day described President Will
son as feeling he could not question
G"rmany's good faith unless the decla-
rations made by the German govern
mcut prove ineffective. The German
ambassador. Count Won Bcrnstorn, re-
turned to Washington to-day from New
York. lie said he did not intend to 20
to the state Department. unless he
should be so instructed by Berlin. or
Secretary Lansing should invite him to
call
Officials would not be surprised, how
ever, If the ambassador should be in
structed 10 call upon Secretary Lansing
next week.
The official text of the German note
was made public to-day by the State
Department. Ambassador Gerard In
transmitting the document. said he had
received copies in both German and
English, probably accounting for tho
fact that the official and the unofficial
versions are so nearly identical
MUCH INTEREST APPARENT
on EDITORIAL OPINION
Much interest was apparent to day
among officials on editorial opinions
OF the German note. Many OF these
suggested the reply should be consd-
cred satisfactory temporarily, pending
the result of Germany's promise ito
do its utmost TO confne operations
OF the war for the ,'est OF it's dura-
ton TO tho lighting forces of the bcl-
iigcrcnts" Others suggested that n
diplomatic break would be advisable.
They pointed particularly to the ap-
parent tendency OF Germany to quail
~ the submarine assurances by con-
ditions concerning the conduct OF
British naval warfare