The Washington herald., 1916-04-24
DELAY HELD GOOD OMEN
Writer In Berlin Declares I'M
preston Germany Wants
Break Is Erroneous.
PREPARING FOR A BACKDoWN
Orders Already Given Submarine Com
manders to Modify Undersea War
fare to Prevent Further Friction.
Especial to The New York Sun and
The washington HernIda

Especial to The New York Sun and
The Washington Heruld9
Berlin (via Amsterdam), April 23.
-Gemany's answer to President VIII
sons virtual ultimatum will be dis
patched to Washington at the earliest
in the middle, possibly not before the
last of the ensuing week.
Of all the signs and hints and omens
with regard to the outcome of the
crisis between the two countries, this
very delay of Gemany's answer is the
most significant; it points clearly to a
backdown on the part of the German
government, a dignihed and gradual,
but none the less complete, accession
to Americas demand that the lives
Of American citizens must be safe
guarded.
Not HankerinE for Break.
II there is anyone in the United States
who deludes himself with the idea that
Germany wants war with America, or
that she is about to defy America by
saying, we can 80 no further, If you
want a break. you take the conse-
quences," he Is sorely unfamiliar with
the aims and the ways and methods of
the German government in international
policies --..- --f. ..--.
We're Germany counting a break with
the United States; were she thoroughly
convinced that there Is not one scintilla
OF Justification for the American de-
mands-as some individual hotheaded edI-
tors have been asseTtng-then there would
have flashed across the cable inside Of
twenty-four hours after the presentation
to the foreign office of the American
note, a brief. curt. decided reply, telling
the American government in so many
words that what it asks is impossible
10 grant, and that this is Germany's last
word, and closes the incident.
Kaiser's Absence Not Reason.
Even the Kaiser's absence from Berlin
would not have prevented that The last
paragraph Of President Wilson's note is
clear enough to be put into one or two
code words, and convey It through the
special wire running from the foreign
office to the Kalser's desk at general
headquarters.
What is really coming to pass in Ger
many at this moment is a feverish prep
aration for a submission to American de-
mands, not, to be sure. for a complete
abandonment OF the submarine warfare,
but Of that which is asked in Mr.. Will
sons closing paragraph. a declaration
and putting into effect of an abandon
ment Of its present methods of submarine
warfare against passenger and freight
carrying vessels.
This is no mere guesswork, or specula-
ton; It is q statement based upon close
observation Of the things that have beef
said and heard here in authoritative
quarters; upon knowledge Of the German
governments time and methods, the d.
rect statements made by men close to
can, Of course, not be divulged at this
time.
Meanwhile, the strictest possible orders
have been given to submarine command
ers. orders which, it is believed and
hoped, will preclude any attack or de-
struction that will force the United States
TO act on its uIlimatum without awaiting
Gerfsny's answer.
1t is significant that already there has
been an almost complete '1ull" in sub
marine activity as compared with the
wholesale sinkings which marked the
whole Of March and the weeks of April
prior to the new German-American crisis.