Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-03-30
MUCH WILL DEPEND ON ANSWER
If TeutOns' Submarines Are Re-
sponsible, Resultant Situation
Will Be Serious, Whether Ad-
mitted or Denied by Ger
many.

washington, March 2S-Secretary Ian
sing, with the approval Of President Will
son. has instructed Ambassador Gerard
to inquire of Germany whether any of
Its submarines torpedoed the British
channel steamer, Sussex. upon which %
American citizens We're travelling, or the
British horseship, Enelishman, which
went down with n loss OF one American
life.
AS the situation now stands the United
States has no conclusive proof that n
submarine attacked either ship, but all
evidence at hand indicates that both
were torpedoed without warnings Upon
the response Of the Berlin foreign of
/ flee to Mr.. Gerard's inquiry may depend
the next step Of the American govern
ment. At this time it is made clear no
action has been taken which in any
sense might be construed as a demand
or protest.
President Wilson laid all the state de-
partments reports on the subject before
his cabinet to-day. 1t was after the meet
ing that Secretary Lansing allowed it to
become known that it had been deter
mined to make an inquiry of the German
government. Later it was learned that
instructions already had been forwarded
to Ambassador Gerard. They probably
were in his possession this afternoon.
The general situation was still further
complicated tonight with the receipt
Of "A despatch from Consul Frost at
Queenstown Announcing that the British
steamer, Manchester Engineer. had been
torpedoed without warning. Two negroe
American citizens who We're aboard were
rescued. Further information which the
consul said he was forwarding will be
awaited before the department under
takes to consider this case.
II a German submarine attacked either
the Sussex or the Englishman, 1t is adj
mitted that the resultant situation will
he most serious. An unofficial but au-
thoritatlve statement has been made that
Germany, If it was found that one of
her submarines torpedoed the Sussex
Immediately would offer reparation. pun
sh the submarine commander and take
steps to satisfy the United States that
the act was a violation Of the instruc-
tons. While official expression Of opn-
ion was withheld. it was minated that
should such development occur, the
position OF the United States would not
be defined until it was known that the
men responsible actually had been pun
ished
Until now the administration has NOT
decided just what action will be taken if
Germany fatty denies that any of its
submarines was concerned in either case,
even though the circumstantial evidence
received clearly indicates the contrary.
Such a state Of affairs, officials say,
will he met when it arises If future de-
velopments should cause the President
to determine that the breaking off dip
lomatc rela tons with Germany is neces-
sary he would go before Congress, an
nounce his decision and explain the acts
leading up to it. While the President
has full authority to break off rela-
tons, he realizes that such an act almost
inevitably would lead TO war and there
fore would feel himself obligated to fully
inform Congress the war-making body
of the government, before taking such
step.
Among high officials of the admins
tratiOn there appears to be a difference
Of opinion regarding the course the
United States should pursue, should
Germany deny responsibility for the at
lacks and the American government find
convincing evidence that they were the
work of German submarines. Some Of
fc!als believe that in such circumstances
the accumulation of offenses against the
United States would justify the sever
anCe of diplomatic relations. Others do
not feel that such action would bo jus
titled.