Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-03
President Wilson's Attitude in
the Controversy With Ger
many Explained.
WAS Determined TO KEEP
UNITED STATES AT PEACE
Possible Severance of Diplomatic Re
lations Discussed by Mr.. Lansing
and Ambassador Bernstorff.

President Wilson's position on
the international situation as re-
vealed further today was that he
had told congressional leaders 1t
was months after the resignation
of former Secretary Bryan before
the United States government
could convince Germany that this
nation was in earnest in its posi-
ton on submarine warfare.
The President is understood to have
mentioned this fact to show his belief
| that action by Congress would further
weaken the position of the United
States abroad: He Is understood to
he wanted to get the United States in
to war were entirely disproved by his
attitude during the last two years. He
endured jeers and ridcule, he said be-
cause of his efforts to maintain peace.
He is understood to have declared that
he has always been willing to do any
thing except sacrifice honor in order to
maintain the United States at peace.
Duty of United States.
clared he did not see how the United
States could do anything but sever
diplomatic relations with any nation
which killed Americans in violation OF
international law.
While both Secretary Lansing and
Count Won Bernstorff, the German am
bassador. have fatty declined to COM
| ment upon the statements regarding
the possibility of war attributed to
President Wilson by Senator Gore, and
later denied by the White House. 1t was
learned today that mention of the result
of a break Of diplomatic relations had
been discussed quite casually and in
formally by the Secretary and the am
bassador late in January Of this year.
| According to authoritative informa-
ton the discussion came at time
| when Secretary Lansing informed the
am ba ssador exactly what kind Of a
| communication from Germany would
settle the Lusitania case in a manner
satisfactory to the United States.
Ambassador Gives Views.
| The ambassador is said to have in
formed Mr.. Lansing that he believed
his government might change some OF
the expressions used in the document
which the Secretary had indicated
would be acceptable.
| They agreed that the ambassador
| should submit the document to his gov
| eminent and see what changes it would
\ suggest. which the ambassador did. AT
| the same time, quite Informally, he Is
| understood to have sked the Secretary
| what he thought would be the ultimate
| result should Germany fail to meet
the requirements Of the United States
| Secretary Lansing. 1T is said told the
! ambassador that in the event of a com
plete disagreement on the subject the
| United States might be obliged to
| break off diplomatic relations. The am
| bassador is reliably represented as hay-
| ing replied that he fully understood
the view of the Secretary and to have
added the hope that nothing of the
| kind ever would occur
Points Out Possibility of War.
| The ambassador pointed out that with
diplomatic relations severed there
would be no agency by which the en-.
thusiasm of naval commanders coulc
be held in check and that some cir.
cumstance was almost certain to oc
cur to lead to hostilities. The ambas
sador also is represented as hayins
pointed out that the modification in tn.
conduct OF submarine warfare. mad,
since the beginning of the war mac
been solely on account of regard fol
the wishes of the United States
The authority from whom this in.
| formation was obtained said it should
be understood that the ambassador
was only expressing his own personal
| opinion. and that the conversation
with Secretary Lansing was absolutely
| informal. and not to be regarded az
! significant Of anything.