The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-20

WAsHINGToN. April l9.--President
Wilson has served notice on Germany
that 1t must choose-and act immedi-
ately--between Abandonment OF its
present methods Of submarine warfare
and severance Of diplomatic relations
with the United States.
The President addressed Congress in
joint session to-day and informed that
-,ody Of the action he had taken.
The note to Germany carrying the
final word of this Government had
been despatched to Berlin hours before
the President TOOK Congress into his
confidence. /, Sas made public late in
the afternoon.
IL contains a scathing general indict-
ment of Germanys submarine polit,
accompanied by the assertion that the
United State. has now reached the
point where 1t must hold that SUBJ
marine warfare against commerce ves-
sells In Incompatible with the rights Of
neutrals and non- combatants and the
principles of humanity.
Wilson'S Final Demand.
The demand for the END OF the l.
boat warfare against merchant ships
Is unequivocal. Ali other features of
the note are regarded as Of minor i'm
portance in comparison. fer 1t is on
this that the German Government
must act. And upon Germanys action
will depend the immediate seriousness
ot the situation.
President Wilson is understood 10
mean by this demand that Germany
must give up its submarine campaign
against merchant shipping and COM
merce carrying vessels altogether.
But officials admit that the actual de-
mand made upon Germany is SO worded
as to leave this important point open
10 TWO constructions.
one is that Germany must abandon
its submarine campaign against mer-
Chantmen altogether. the other that
Germany must abandon its present
methods of submarine warfare" in
favor of other methods of submarine
warfare against merchantmen which
will satisfy the President.
leaSes Way Open.
German diplomats here at once
seized upon the latter construction, and
II - regarded as certain that the
Presidents demand will be So inter-
preted in Berlin II leaves Germany
an opportunity to reply that the I'm
perial Government viii endeavor to
conform To this demand by "A revision
Of the rules now governing the warn
Ing of passenger ships ano merchant
men and by agreeing adequately to
provide for the safety of the crews
There are indications that Germany
might agree to do this. Count Won
B,rnstorn has an engagement with
Secretary OF state Lansing tomorrow
and probably will make a final effort to
avert diplomatic break by reopening
negotiations along these lines ON
cials here said this afternoon that ne
gotiations might be reopened provided
Germany Immediately declared and ef-
fected an abandonment of its sub
marine warfare before these negotia
tons were undertaken.
In other words, IL Germany vii!
agree TO hold its submarine campaign
in allegiance while It IL negotiating with
the United States there would be no
disposition upon the part Of this Gov
ernment to press matters unduly. But
II was made clear that an immediate
cession of Germany's submarine cam
paign was the only contingency on
which the matter could be- reopened.
There is grave doubt here whether the
Imperial Government will agree to this,
and. refusing. a break is considered al
most inevitable.
May B~ stumbiins Point.
The word Immediately in the
Presidents demand is likely to be the
outstanding feature so far as Ger
many is concerned, Count Won Bern
storff has not had time to learn Off
cially his Governments views, but he
understands pretty well what Berlins
attitude will be. II is understood he
despairs of any immediate cession of
the submarine campaign unless Great
Britain in the meantime relaXes the
rigors Of the blockade
Other features which detract from
L any prospects Of amicabie and imme-
d'ate adjustment are pointed out by
German diplomats. German feeling. IL
| Is explained. is lust now very much
aroused against any action taken here
against Won Igel, Capt. Won Papens
|. former secretary, His arrest is char
acterized throughout Germany as fla
grant violation Of German rights and
an invasion Of German sovereignty.
The Presidents note could therefore
not have come at more inopportune
time, according TO German officials
The temper Of the people Of Germany