Evening star., 1916-04-26
IMPERIAL CHANCELLOR OFF
TO CONFER WITH KAISER
Leaves for Army Headquarters, Fol-
lowing Conference at Berlin With
American Ambassador Gerard.
TRY TO REACH AGREEMENT
Indications Are That Efforts Will
Be Made to Avoid Break-No
Anti-American Demonstrations
Among German People.

BERN, Switzerland. April 26,
via Paris, ABS a.m.-The Bund,
which has exceptional sources of
information in regard to German
affairs, says it is probable the
German government will not
maintain any longer that the
steamship Sussex was not tor
pedoed by a German submarine.
Berlin Answer This Week.
| BERLIN, April 2o. via Lon
don, 1855 p.m.-The German an
swer to the American note may
| not be expected before the end of
the present week. 1t may be pre-
sented Saturday.
Prior to his departure for head
quarters to consult with Emperor
William, the submarine issue and
Germarrs relations with the
United States were again under
discussion yesterday by DR.. Won
Bethmann-Hollweg, the imperial
chancellor, and James w. Gerard,
The American ambassador.
Expect Modus Vivendi.
The chancellor will reach head
quarters this afternoon. All the sur
face indications point more and more
to the ability that an arrangement
regarding the Sussex. and a modus
vivendi on the submarine problem will
be offered to the United States, and
that a sincere endeavor to reach an
! understanding VIII be made from this
side, putting the decision regarding the
| future status of relations up to Wash
ington.
The main purpose of the imperial
chancellor's flying trip to Berlin-a
journey which involves twenty hours
travel in each direction-has been. as
is evident from his protracted con-
desire to obtain as clear an idea
possible of the attitude and policy of
the American government. what. II
any thing. lies behind and beyond the
American note. and what measures are
necessary to satisfy the American de-
mand. before the momentous decision
| is taken by the emperor and his ad
| visers at headquarters.
| So far Germany is concerned there
| is still possibility of a settlement
| and hope has not been abandoned here.
| But the Germans, as is apparent from
| many conversations which the As
| sociated Press has had with promine ent
men since the beginning of this crisis,
wish to know before giving their an
| swer. what sort of answer would sat
| sfy the United States. whether as
| surances of a properly conducted sub
! marine campaign would be adequate,
the prelude to further demands later.
No Break Is Wanted.
| 1t can be stated positively that Dr.
Won Bethmann Hollweg and his ad-
visers realize fully the disadvantages
| of break with the United States, and
| that they do not desire it if it can be
avoided. But they feel. IL a break
must come ultimately, it would be use
less to indulge in concessions and com
promises now. and that they might as
| well have the matter settled.
| Ambassador Gerard conferred Mon
day with the imperial chancellor alone.
none Of the chancelIor's advisers par
| ticipating in the interview.
| MIR. Gerard Immediately cabled long
| account Of the conversation to Secre-
| tary Lansing, and the feeling here is
| that if il were possible to obtain an
swer from Washington before the Ger
man council is concluded and a decision
accepted II might aid materially in the
solution. There is little expectation of
that, however.
Berlin Is Less Gloomy.
| There has been a distinctly better at
4 mosphere in Berlin of late. On the day
, of the publication of the American
note and for soma tine afterward. an
air of gloom prevailed regarding future
German american relations. and many
men spoke of rupture as inevitable.
The word now is that a settlement is
within the reach of possibility, and al
though it would be wrong to use the
! word optimism, at least the spirit Of
pessimism has notably abated and
everywhere one hears the query: What
does America want; can we satisfy
| President Wilson without abandoning
the submarine campaign, or does he
| want to prevent us from winning the
| war;
| During the crisis there has been an
utter absence of unfriend1y demonstra-
tons against Americans. The down.
town streets for three days have been
jamrned with holiday crowds. but there
has not been the slightest intimation
of any desire to organize demonstra@
ton against the American embassy. or
even of popular curiosity regarding
the doings there. and the big square
l hat m hos l.
cellor's palace has been left to the
lundisturbed and lazy tenancy of one
policeman and one "plainclothes man"
who for months have been posted be-
| fore the embassy.
The public and the press continue to
| Continued on Sixteenth Page.)