The Washington herald., 1917-02-03
GERMANY WOULD AVERT
CLASH With AMERICA
Embassy Announces that U. S. Ships
Will Be Accorded Full Protection.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

follow the route laid down for the one
ship week permitted by the terms or
| the German note. The hesAmbassador ex-
planned that the Limitation of one ship
week was fixed because the American
Line, the only European shipping line op-
Grating under the American flag, had
only four ships. and could maintain
schedule of only one ship a week.
Any American shipowner, he said.
would be given permission to sail, IL he
would agree to follow the terms laid
down In the note, as to cargo and as to
the course to be followed. The American
Line, he said, could augment its neet to
any extent, and would be allowed to send
as many Ships as 1t liked under the
guarantees required.
The Ambassador was asked whether
American ships would be allowed to pro-
ceed to KIrkwall, rather than to Fal-
mouth, as prescribed in the note. but
he asserted that this would be impos-
sfhle owing to the location of Kirkwall
in the center of the barred zone about
Great Britain.
Germany VIII Not war.
Germany will never declare war on the
United States, even though diplomatic
relations are broken. An unqualified as
from an authoritative source, as &C
curately rejecting the German govern
ment's viewpoint. Germany expects as
inevitable that this nation will sever dip
lomatic intercourse, and this step will not
be long delayed. as a result of the crisis
| precipitated by Germany's new campaign
OF ruthless submarine warfare.
| But from official sources close to the
Germany Embassy, the greatest emphasis
I latd tho noint that althnnpf
Germany's latest step was prompted by
military necessity. and the only step left
! TO the Teutons to win the war, Germany
has never conceived the idea that Il
wanted war with the United States.
Count Won Bernstorff. the German Am
bassador. in apprehensive mood and per.
ceptibly nervous over the next develop
ments, fatly declined to go on record
as to what Germany's attitude would bt
II break in relations occurs But ir
| other quarters, the German official view
was made plain that Germany will mo-
| be provoked into war against this ma
| tion, II by any possibility II can be pre-
vented. This statement was made ir
the expectation that the German Ambas
sador would be given his passports.
VIII Protect Americana
At the German Embassy last night 81
was declared that every possible efrort
would be made by German submarine
commanders TO prevent American deaths
In the new submarine blockade. Embassy
officials stressed the point that Germany,
new move cannot be construed as q
breach OF faith, in connection with the
pledges made in the Sussex note and con
templates solely the cutting OF OF neutra
trade with Germany's enemies
Ambassador Bernstorff in his talks t.
callers emphatically declared that Ger
many's new move is not directed in any
way against American lives or property
or against the lives or property OF any
other neutral, and that the submarine
blockade should not be regarded as any
more illegal than the acts OF England
which have been countenanced by thil
government. The German government
view is that for two and a half years tn.
United States has submitted to the Brit
ish stoppage of trade between the United
States and Germany. Germany now feels
II was declared. that it is perfectly justi
ned In imposing a SIMILAR check agains
It's enemy, and in making what It believe.
to be legitimate counter move to Grea
Britain's purpose to starve out Germany
Favor Delaying Break.
When the Ambassador was informet
| last night that at the Presidents confer
ence with Senators at the Capitol. senti
| ment developed in favor of delaying
break in diplomatic relations until som.
overt violation OF Germany's pledges oc
CURED, he apparently was greatly re
| lieved. Although he declined to discus
this latest development for publication
1t was clear that the Ambassador ant
the members of his official family wer,
hopeful that even now some way may b,
| devised to meet the situation without ,
precipitate break. other Teutonic envoyi
| who were informed about the President
| conference shared the Ambassadors op
timism.
Count Tarnowski Won Tarnow, the nev
Austrian Ambassador called upon th
German Ambassador yesterday and the,
had lengthy conference. Earlier in tn,
| day the Austrian Ambassador sought al
| opportunity to call upon Secretary O
| State Lansing, but the latter was attend
ing Cabinet meeting. The Amba ssado
then asked for an appointment with tn,
Secretary this morning. He expects t
call at the State Department during tn,
forenoon and make arrangements for pre
senting his credentials to President vii
son.