Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-05
OFFICIALS FEAR
| CONDITIONS WILL
Be IMPOSSIBLE
President Prepared to Stand
Unalterably by His An
nOunced Position.
OFFICIAL COPY OF NOTE
EXPECTED BY TONIGHT
Perturbation Expressed in Berlin
Over Effect Concessions May
Have on Public Opinion.
LONG DIPLOMATIC DOCUMENT
Adhcres in Principles Enunciated in
Manifesto of Feb
runry 8.
OFFICIAL COPY OF NOTE
EXPECTED BY TONIGHT
LONG DIPLOMATIC DOCUMENT
Adhcres in Principles Enunciated in
Manifesto Of Feb
runry 8.

w n. MaN
reply to the demand Of the United
States for immediate abandonment of
present methods of submarine warfare.
delivered to Ambassador Gerard to-day.
was awaited by officials of the WASH
,nEton government tonight with ex-
pectant tension. They were without
any definite idea of what the commu-
nication contained. a brief message
from Amba ssador Gerard. as we'll as
press reports. however had created the
Impression that the imperial govern
ment would propose conditions which
the United States could not accept.
IT was reiterated that President Wit
son stood unalterably by the position
declared in the note to Germany-that
the aba ntonn1ent of present submarine
methods must be declared and effected
Immediately or tho United States must
sever diplomatic relations. This de-
mand was designed to permit OF no
argument. and high officials repeated
~ have asserted that anything short
OF 4 literal compliance would be fol-
lowed by r diplomatic rupture.
| The official copy of the note hardly
will reach Washington before to-mor-
row night. but the document was given
| to the press in Berlin late Tonight
aud the unofficial text was expected
to reach tho United States early to-
morrow morning
MESSAGE FROM GERARD
NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR
Ambassador Gerards message was
sent before he had examined the note
itself. It's meaning was not entirely
| clear. because of errors In transmits
sion Of the diplomatic cipher.
Secretary Lansing declined to con,-
| tnent on the message or make It pub
lie. because he feared It was garbled or
| that Mr.. Gerard. not having seen the
| note itself. might have made inaccu-
rate deductions. Furthermore. the am
| bassador had indicated that his mes
| sage rust be regarded as being highly
/ confidential.
Secretary Lansing s.rt tho dispatch
to the White House for the informn-
tlon OF President Wilson. AT the same
| time an effort was IT ade to have tho
errors of transmission corrected. 10
appeared tonight however. that tho
contents OF the note would be known
| before the corrections could be made.
Officials gave especial consideration
to press dispatches. saying that tha
German Chancellor would have tho Ger,
! man public behind him in efforts to
avoid breach Of relations with tha
United States. 80 far as can be dona
without sacrificing the principle cnun-
ciated in the German manifesto of Tsbs
| ruary s."
10 TREAT AS WARSHIPS
ARMED MERCHANT SHIPs
This manifesto OF February ans
nounced to the world Germany's inten-
tion or treating as warshps armed
merchant ships of hostile nations. Is
was clearly indicated that In tho fu-
ture Germany intended to sink without
warning belllgerent merchant ships car
ryinE armament. OH tho ground that
they were armed for purposes of of
fense, and that commanders Of British
merchantmen had instructions to at
tack German submarines.
The position Of the United States ia
that merchant ships have a right to
arm themselves for defensive purposes,
and that as long as that armament was
carried and used for defense the yes.
sells should receive the same treatment
as other peaceful trading ships. This
position was restated and elaborated
upon i'll n memorandum on the subject
prepared by Secretary Lansing at the
direction of President Wilson, and only
a rev days after the dispatch OF tho
note 10 Germany, sent to the govern.
ments or Europe, neutral as we'll as
beiligerent
Some officials Tonight found a hope
.fui indication in press dispatch which
stated that considerable perturbation
was apparent in Berlin over the effect
which Concessions to be made might
have on German public opinion.
President Wilson and Secretary Lam
sins prepared to remain UP late to-
night TO see the unofficial text OF the
reply carried in press dispatches, but
abandoned rhe idea when 1t became
known that the dispatches would not
be available before morning. a special
corps OF operators was kept on duty
at the State Department to receive tho
official text. though ut midnight word
had not come from Ambassadors Gerard
that he was ready to start the docu-
ment.
GERARD CALLS on JAGOW
To RECEIxEc GL.RH ~ n u. ysY "