Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-05-06

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Of Germany's present practices Of SUBJ
marine warfare which is declared.
President Wilson is described by those
close about him as being in a position
. where he cannot question the good
faith of Germany's assurances, which
must stand or fall by the future con-
duct of her submarine commanders.
Return to "Cruiser Warfare"
The German embassy view Is that
the note gives all President Wilson
asked for; that it signalizes return
to cruiser warfare"-the use OF SUD-
marines as regular naval cruisers, IN
tercepting commerce with visit ana
search-and that, inasmuch as II
makes no mention Of the armed ship
question, that perplexing feature OF
the controversy is not involved.
Congress Is Calm
Congress took the note quietly, and
the general sentiment seemed to be IN
favor Of leaving the situation in the
hands Of the President. On the sur
face there was no sign Of activity IN
the group which has been working to
prevent the President from pressing the
situation to the point of a diplomatic
rupture.
Cabinet members went over the unofti'
cial text carefully with the President ana
when they uniformly refused to discuss IL
they reflected the view that break had
been averted; that Germany's new as
surances would be accorded the test OF
time, Notwithstanding the reference to
the action Germany expects the United
States to take against Great Britain's re-
.straints on neutral trade. They expressed
this view with full realization of the diff
ferences Of opinion on what constitutes
a peaceful merchant ship entitled to the
protection of international law and of
the Presidents steadfast determination
not opermit the interests OF the United
States with one of the belligerents to be-
come entangled with those Of another.
The United States only recently declar-
ing its views on the rights of merchant
ships on the high seas, recognized and
provided for the condition under which
Germany charges British merchant ships.
by orders of the British admiralty. act
ually are acting as naval war vessels In
attacking submarines
Germany in her note reserves "com-
plete liberty Of decision should the
fAt Gk0$ fni fn
Great Britain to bring her practices
into conformity with international law.
The official view is that the United
States for some time has been and is
now conducting diplomatic correspond
ence with Great Britain on that sub
ject and the success or failure Of Ger
many's consequent action must neces-
sarily remain for the future.
The United States does not know
how Germany's new instructions to
submarine commanders compare with
previous instructions which were given
at the behest Of President Wilson.
Secretary Lansing stated today, that
1t was possible that the State Depart
ment might ask for official copies Of
the old orders.
emily are regarded as meeting the Presi
dents demand for a declaration Of an
abandonment Of the present practices
Of submarine warfare. Officials seem
agreed that the President demand that
Germany also effect" such an abandon
ment only could be answered by time.
Under such circumstances. one set Of
officials feel the threatened break will
not come at this time: another set is
convinced that Germany's apparent de-
termination to make the fulfilment of
her promises conditional upon the sue
cess Of the Presidents negotiations with
Great Britain warrants the severance
of diplomatic relations.
Decision Next Week
At the state department. after the sit
uation had been thoroughly discussed at
the cabinet meeting, it was stated that
because of the length of the note. the
time required for digesting it carefully
and the necessity of having at hand the
Official text for the preservation of all
shades of meaning which might be OBJ
scured in translation or in wireless trans
mission, it was virtually certain that the
President would not reach his decision
before next week.
Out of it all two things were made
clear They were that the United States
still holds firmly to it's determination that
mistakes" Of submarine commanders are
not admissible-that they are unforgiv-
able, and that the United States must
continue to regard a discussion OF the
conduct of other belligerents as irrelevant
to its discussion Of Germany's conduct.
While the tone of the German note was
said to be disappointing. most otflciais
expressed the view that. after all, the
language was immaterial If the assur-
ances were oil that had been asked for.
At the end of the cabinet meeting the
President asked all the members 70 READ
the note carefully and report to him tneir
mature views. The President remained
in his study all day and examined the
note very carefully. Tonight he read ed
itorial comments from all parts OF the
country.
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