The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-20

United States and Germany may be II
beca me- clear tonight that the personal
relations between Secretary Lansing and
Ambassador Won Bernstorr are at the
breaking point.
Unless there IL an immediate change
Washington has reason to expect that
Count Won Bernstorff's recall will he re-
Q1eS,ed-thc German diplomat. In the
language Of an angry OFFICIAL able 70
speak with authority. will he shipped
back home
The situation has arisen out Of what
Administration officials consider delib-
crate and unfair publicity methods of
the Ambassador They hold the German
Embassy responsible for creating an I'm
pression that the United states has
changed its attitude on submarine war
fare.
As the best evidence that the State
Department has not made such n change,
u is minated. the Ambassador Will
probably be declared persons non grata
and his recall requested.
One result OF the anger In official
quarters over what II considered inter
national misrepresentation was 10 bring
to liAt to-day for the frat time the
whole story of recent negotiations be-
tween Secretary Lansing and Won
Bcrnstorff. 1t was revealed
That the United States had advance
knowledge of the German and Aus
triau purpose to issue q new decree
regarding merchantmen
That, Germany and Austria post
poned the decree from February l to
March !.
That, tn. United states in sending
It's suggestion to the Entente Allies
for disarmament OF merchant liners
did so AS a result Of knowledge OF this
proposed decree.
That AZ no time did the United
States admit the legal right OF Ger
many 10 issue such "a decree. though
admitting there was some Justice to
the German viewpoint.
That Germany. notwithstanding
hcr failure to obtain the agreement
Of the United States TO the issuance
of the decicc-this Government hold
ing that no two or three Govern
.pi"',ts could make international law
FOR the wrr,d-wcnt ahead and made
her declaration. to be effective March l.
TNat the United States believes
Germany Numbered.
The personal feeling on Mr.. I%ansing's
part came 10 the top, II was laid to.
hight. when he found II necessary to deny
a report that he intended 20 resign
tHlN Itl'IN EFtWs ~ WV
of intimai .ons that he had conceded the
German position regarding armed mer'
chantnen but had been overruled by the
President. The latter was an intimatlor
denied earlier In the week.
The belief mons high officials that
Germany has blundefed grows out OF the
feeling that had the decree regarding
merchantmen been withheld there was
n poss bility that the United states sug
cestion To the Entente Allies might have
borne fruit. There is little nance now
II Is thought.
The direct connection between IN,
armed merchantmen decree and the Lu'
sitania case was explained by = higl
state pepa tment official In this manner
Germany by that decree reopened thu
question Il future submarine warfare
the very first question disposed OF wheel
negotiations over the Lusitania's sink!nI
began. To say there has been a chang,
of policy on the part of the United State.
IL unfair. The only change has been TIT
w~ithdrawal-by the issuance OF thu
March | decrce-of the assn, ances give
earlier 10y Germany regarding futur
conduct of submarine warfare"