The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1916-03-03
Executive Tells Congressional
Leaders, 1t Is Revealed,
That It Took Months to Con.
vince Europe.
THINK AMERICA IS
NOT IN EARNEST
Lansing and Won Bernstorff
Understood to Have Dis.
cussed Breach of Diplomatic
Relations in January.


Washington. March President
Wilson's position on tn, int irrational
situation ~ revealed further today
was that he had told congressional
leaders II was months after tie r-sig-
nation of former Secretary lrydn be-
fore the United states government
could convince GERMAN thai this ma
tiun WIS ~ catnest Ia is position on
submarine warfare.
rhc president l. dna.Tstoud TO have
mentioned this fact H. show his belief
that action by congress would further
weaken the position at the United
states abroad lie r. understood to
have told the leaders that charges
that he wanted Ia get the United
states into war wcr" entirely dis
proved by his attitude durins the last
tw" years lie endured iocrs ana ridi-
rul,. he said. because uf his efforts To-
maintain peace. He h. understood to
haV, dcclaGcd that he has always been
willing lu do anything except sacrifice
honor IN order tu maintain ia. tinted
states at peace.
st IN. same time IN, pr,sirrnt de.
claroG ne did not see how IA, tinted
states could do iuything bat sever
diplomatic relations with yrN nation
which killed Americans In H,ation Of
International law
while bnth secretary La sung and
count Won Bornsturn the German nm-
bassador, have n1tN declined tu cum-
mrnt upon thg statements "t IN. pos
s!bili,N - war uf'rinutcd to President
Wilson hy S.ns'pr Gore. ana later
dcuiod hy the White House. II was
learn ID TODAY that mention of the re-
suit uf a break ol diplomatic relations
had been discussed quite 'idlly and
informally ny IN, secretary rnd the
ambassador late 200 January of this
year.
Ac 'ording To authoritative iufornu-
liun the discussion came ~ a time
when Secretary Lansing informed tn,
ambassador cxG,tl, what tiud - u
communication fiom Germany could
settle the Lusitarli cas-. In - manner
satisfactory 10 the inited states. The
Ambassador ~ said 10 have Informed
Mr.. Lansing that hr believe. his gov
"rnmcnt might change some of the
| Expressions used % thu aocumcnt
which the secretary had Indicated
! would bc acceptable.
rhcy agreed thal the Gmbasador
| should submit tn, document To his
| government aud -. what .nInpcs II
| would suggest. whi.h the a., bassador
| did At IN. same time. lui'r miur-
| maily. h" iS und.r-i ood to have ask ed
| ;hc secretary what he thought would
Dee tho ultimate result should Germany
iail To meet the r.iulrcmcnts of the
I | nIt.i states.
| secretary IausIrs. II H. sud, told
the Ambassador thai N cNeh' uf a CONF
plrte disagreement On the subject The
| United states might be obliged q"
! break on dlplomattc relations. The
ambassador is reliably represented ~
having replied thai he fully under
| stood the view ui IA. secretary ana
IN have added the nope tina, nothing
of the kind ever would uccur
| The aInbassadoi pointed oui that
with diplomatic Citations severed
| there would bc a.. agency by which
the enthusiasm of naval commander,
could be- held In check and tldt some
| circumstance wa ,lmost certain Ia
occdr 10 lead tu hustilities. The am
hasador also - IvuI"senied ns having
pointed uHt that Tine modigl cations in
the conduct uf pmarin" warfare
made since the bcgnning uf the wal
had been solely uu tccount OF regard
for tho wishos or 'He United States,
The authority t.Hm whom this in
formation WAS uhil ned said II should
be under stood ih.. the ninbassadoI
was only .xprc.sina his own personal
lop.niuns and that he conversation
/ with SECRETARY tTsing uss absolute