Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-04-15
United States Will Send
Note Within the Next
Few Days
ALL THE EVIDENCE IN
America Will Tolerate No Further
Offense BY Submarine Boats of
Germany.

Washington April 15-This Gov.
ernment will send one more COM
munication to Germany upon the
submarine issue, and if the answer
to it is not satisfactory, or if the
assurances which that answer may
contain are not religiously adhered to-
President Wilson will break diploma
tic relations with Germany and then
Law the whole case before Congress
This is the program which the Ad-
ministration will follow in it's next
move in the German negotiations. 1t
was laid before the Cabinet, it is
said, and approved without question
by that body.
The note which Secretary Lansing
and the President will prepare and
forward to Germany will not have
the technical aspect of an ultimatum,
but it's tone will be so decisive and
its demands so vigorous that Berlin
can make no mistake as to its real
import.
An ultimatum would bear time
limit and lay down a plain yes or no
proposition. A response to it would
haye to be given within a prescribed
period, and that response would have
to be satisfactory if Germany want
ed to maintain further friendly re-
lations with the United States. Nc
such procedure will be followed al
this stage, it is understood.
The communication, however, will
make it as plain as daylight that
the Government and the people OF
the United States are shocked at the
evident disregard by Germany of her
solemn pledge concerning control Of
her submarines. A direct breach OF
faith on the part Of the Berlin Gov.
ernment will not be charged, but il
will be shown that Germany's words
and Germany's deeds do not accord
The case of the Sussex will be cit
ed. The explanation which the Ger.
man Government has made of that
vessels destruction will not be ac'
cepted. 1t will be pointed out, on the
contrary, that undeniable evidence
exists to show that the Sussex was
torpedoed by Submarine without
warning and without any opportunity
whatever for the passengers or ere"
to save themselves.
Moreover, it is expected that the
note will add that Germany in hei
own words, has convicted herself o1
violation Of the rule which she accept
ed five months ago. 1t is admitted by
4 submarine commander that he tor
pedocd a steamer at the spot ant
at the time the Sussex was sunk with
out warning. This commander report
ed, his Government states, that HI
thought the ship in question was
man-of-war. The United States vii
contend that it was the duty of th'
submarine to know and not to thini
on that point.
In other words, the Berlin repor
on the Sussex case will be rejected
and at the same time the German
Government will be given to under
stand that the course Of its sub
marine warfare for' weeks has bee
so ruthless as to lead to the convlc
tion that no intention exists IN Ger
many to observe the provisions Q
international law as Interpreted b
this Government and as accepted b
Germany.
The note itself will not be as blur
as just indicated, but will be ciothe
in the language Of diplomacy In
meaning will be none the less pointe
and unmistakable. 1t will in etfe'
be an indictment of the German lndf
ference to it's promises, it Is sal
and will demand an answer abol
which there can be no mis-understan'
ing here or elsewhere.
This answer; as already state
; must be complete and final rea
surance on the part of the Germs
; Government as to Its, future cours
Il ronst carry tho, !nledEe that rig