The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-04-21
United States Will Take No
Action Till a Reply
Is Received
OR SHIP TORPEDOED
BY A SUBMARINE
Secretary Lansing Went into
Conference with Pres
ident Wilson

Washington, d. c., April 2l.--Secre,
tary Lansing, who conferred with Pres
ident Wilson before the cabinet meeting
to-day, said he did not expect any ac-
tion ON the submarine situation until a
reply is received from Germany or I'M
less another ship carrying Americans is
torpedoed by a German submarine. He
said that in case the diplomatic relations
between the two nations are broken the
work of the United States in caring for
the diplomatic interests of Germany in
other countries, in all Likelihood, will be
suspended.
In explaining the demand OF the Unit.
ed States, officials said that while aban-
donment of the present illegal methods
at once was essential to continuance of
diplomatic relations, the United States
might agree to German submarines oper-
ating under the strict restriction of
cruiser warfare. 1t was emphatically
reiterated, however, that a discussion OF
that phase would not be entered into
until the present campaign was brought
to a stop. The United States stands
firm in its determination not to tolerate
the unlawful and unhumane sinking OF
another ship.
Cruiser warfare such as would be re-
garded as legal by the American gov
ernment, would make imperative, the ex
ereise of the right to visit and search,
the passengers and crew being accorded
a degree of safety considered adequate
The mere placing of passengers and
crews in small boats far from land and
in dangerous seas would not meet re-
quirements.
The Mediterranean plan of warfare, as
announced in the German memorandum
on January 2 to the United States, has
not worked satisfactorily, administra
tion officials consider. II is held that
in many instances, submarine comman
ders operating in the Mediterranean have
the understanding in letter
and in spirit. Count Won Bernstorff is
understood to have suggested to his gov
ernment that it issue a new declaration |
applying to all submarine operations |
similar to that covering the campaign |
in the Mediterranean
The ambassador called at the state de. |
partment and had 25-minute confer |
ence with Secretary Lansing. Mr.. Lans- |
ing listened with much interest to the
made by Count Won Berns-
torf which he understood the ambassa
dor was ready to make to his own gov
The secretary, however, was
disposed to accept the views expressed
by the ambassador, as being not official
but as the ambassadors own opinion and
of the atter's desire to pre-.
vent a break between his country and
he United States. The president, hav-
ng laid down the condition that there
must be an abandonment of the present
submarine methods, Secretary Lansing /,
axes the view that there must be direct |,
md formal response from the German
government itself before there can be
discussion of the various phases of the
ubject OF of any alternative proposition
hort of absolute compliance with Amer ]
can demands.
As a result of his conference, Count
Ton Bernstorf sent another commun
alton to his government last evening.
t was made clear at the German en- J
'assy that the ambassador did not ex- II
ect to call upon Secretary Lansing un I
il after his government had made for c
lal reply TO the American note. c