Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-11-27
Empowered to Say United
States Will Execute Her
Sussex Note Threat
WILL SEVER RELATIONS
If PLEDGES ARE BROKEN
Will Also Tell Berlin No More
Notes Will Be Written
On Subject
By Robert ]. Bender.

Omitted Press staff correspondent.)
Washington, Nov. 27.-Ambassador
Gerard viii take back to Berlin next
week Americas last word in the sub
marine situation.
This will include notice of the adj
minstration s plan to do no more note
writing, if there is any German viola
tion of submarine war pledges. He will
be in position to inform the German
authorities privately that the United
States intends to carry out her Sussex
note threat of breaking relations if vio-
lation arise.
Gerard here today was booked for
luncheon with German Ambassador Won
Bernstorff, strictly social matter, and
for early conferences with President
Wilson and state department officials.
He exiected to talk to state department.
officials about what he knows of the
German mind concerning submarinings,
likewise of peace possibilities and ccm-
mercial plans for after the war.
No Crisis Developed.
The time for Gerard's engagement
with the president was indefinite.
though the presidents cold iss better
and will probably not interfere with
the session.
Since the presidents IS return from
Shadow Lawn he has received immedi-
ately from Secretary Lansing every
scrap of information received at the
state department on the recent German
submarine activities. At the same time,
new policy Of absolute silence ON the
submarine problem has been inaugural
ed both at the state department and
the White House.
Officials have frowncd on yeports
both in this country and abroad that a
new U boat "crisis' was developing.
The searching inquiries made by this
government into the different sinkings'
| BY submarines during the last month
have revealed the fact that the govern
ment is intent upon determining defin-
itely whether the German government
has embarked upon new campaign en-
dangering her assurances given at the
| time of the Sussex sinking.
| Must Have Facts First
Some of the reported sinkings were
found to have been justified. Others are
still TO be cleared up. The terse state
ment made by high state department.
official last week that the United States
will not indulge in correspondence OF
any kind in the event German subma-
rine commanders break Germany 3
pledges, it became known todaoy,
voiced the unanimous sentiment OF hIsh
officials. 1t was clear, that merely ap-
parent violation Of pledges would not
be sufficient to make drastic action I'M
mediately necessary. The administration
will continue slow in any inquiries made
and be made absolutely certain OF facts
first.
Although officials refused to talk pub
licly of the coming interview between
Gerard and the president, it was learn
ed on the best authority today that the
ambassador to Germany will be ac-
ouainted with every detail in connection
with the present situation and that he
be told, in effect, that another Sussex
case would bring about the most Sc
rious situation that has arised between
Germany and the United States.
Secretary Lansing saw Ambassador
! Gerard shortly after IL O'Clock and
later Joined him at lunch with the Ter
man ambassador. Lansing refused to
reveal ANYTHING of his talk with Gerard,
saving it was confidential, though mdi-
eating he had given Gerard the COM
plete view of the administration IS ideas
and purposes.
Gerard also talked with Third Assist
ant Secretary Phillips, who is handing
the matter of getting more food stufts
TO Americans in Berlin.