The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-04-20
vON BERNS
HOPES BREAK CAH'A
Be AvtRItD
Ambassador COnferS With SeCre-
tay Lansing Today
CRISIS IN WAITING STAGE
Another Week May See an Extension
of Passports and Recall of
Gerard.

Won Bernstorff today discussed with
Secretary of State Lansing the pos
sibility of averting break of relations
between Germany and the United
States. The ambassador refused TO
give any of the details OF the confer
ence but he expressed himself as far
from hopeless. He stated that he ex-
pected to receive instructions from
Berlin early next week, although num-
erous conferences over the latest note
and the presidents message to con-
gress would be necessary.
Washington, April 20.-Germany has
been solemnly warned by President
Wilson that diplomatic relations will
be severed by the United States unless
Germany shall now Immediately de-
clare and effect an abandonment of
its present methods of submarine war
fare against passenger and freight
carrying vessels"
This warning, of the deepest signi-
ficance and carrying the possibility of
ultimate war, was given in similar
words in the presidents speech yester-
day afternoon before the joint session
OF Congress and in note sent to EN-
bassador Gerard at Berlin for trans
mission to the German foreign office,
the text of which was made public last
evening.
The president considers that the
next step depends solely upon Ger
many, and that three or four days con-
stitute a reasonable time for a reply,
although no time is set in what
amounts almost to an ultimatum.
He Is willing to discuss how subma-
rine warfare might be conducted with
in the limits of international law and
humanity after Germany abandons her
present methods, but the violation of
international law by submarines will
mean the severance of diplomatic rela-
tions, with increased possibility Of war
as only one modern instance-Germ-
any and Italy--exists in which this ac
ton has not been followed by war
The note to Germany sets forth the
belief that German submarine sank
the channel steamer Sussex, and an APP
pendix to the note sets forth the eyi-
dence available.
Had the recent attack on the chan
mel steamer Sussex, the note tells Ger
many, been an isolated case, the Unit
ed States might have hoped that the
submarine commander acted in viola
tion of his governments solemn
pledges and that the ends of justice
might have been satisfied by dis
ayowal, reparation, and his proper
punishment But it adds, this case
"unhappily does not stand alone"
The appendix shows that three
American army and navy officers
found in the hull of the destroyed ship
screwbolts which correspond in use
and indentification marks with those
on German torpedoes in possession OF
the French government at the naval
station at Toulon, and Is pieces OF
metal which they have identified as
parts of German torpedoes Four OF
them still bear the distinctive rec
paint common to German torpedo wal
heads Besides this evidence. the
note contends, every circumstance
either admitted by Germany in hel
disclaimer or proved by affidavit o
persons on the destroyed liner prove!
beyond question that she was tor
pedoed without warning.
Congress received the president
declaration of his course with mixet
evidences Of concern and appreciation
Most of the leaders, democratic ant
republican, thought the president hard
ly could do less and some expressed
the opinion that his action would no
lead to war. Republican Leader Nam
alone of all the opposition leader
openly attacked the president for hi
stand. He characterized it as polit
cal play
Copies of the American note wer
sent to representatives at Washin.
ton of neutral nations, on the assumJ
tion that they are as much interes
ed as the United States in the prote,
tion OF neutral rights. The documer
was not given to any of the belligerer
diplomats, as the controversy is +
garded as being solely between II
United States and Germany.
Count Won Bernstorff already hi
reiterated to Secretary Lansing tn;
under no circumstances will German
give up the submarine as weapon
warfare, because she contends 1t is
retaliation for Great Brltain's fot
blockade The ambassador has d
clared, however, that his governme
will attempt to bring submarine opt
ations within the law of nations. Th
the United States is willing to discu
after Germany had abandoned h
present methods--not before.
The crisis now resolves itself in
the waiting stage during which GC