The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-02
First Move Following Ger
many's Declaration Re-
mains Problematical.
INDICATIONS POINT
TO~NOTE ISSUANCE
Whatever Is Done, An
nouncement Cannot Stand
Without Challenge.

Washington. Feb. /. - Whatever
course Of action President Wilson has
chosen to meet Germany's declaration
Of unrestricted submarine warfare is
of his official family. Neither the cab
met as IL whole nor the foreign affairs
committees OF congress have been ta-
ken into his confidence.
one high official close to the prcsi-
dent declared tonight that no COM
munication had been sent to Berlin or
to Count Won Bernstorff. who outward
ly was expecting severance Of diplo-
matte relations.
There was every indication in Off
cial quarters that II note had been de-
termined upon, but the indications az
to whether it actually had been dis
| patched were about evenly divlaed.
with II few high officials as authority
that IL had not and some others who
gave intimations of u belief that it
| had.
1t was undlsputed that the govern
ment would not permit Germany's an
nouncement to stand without chal-
lenge.
| VIII 30 Some Action.
But whether President Wilson'S an
swcr will be solemn warning Of
break of diplomatic relations il Ger
many's campaign of ruthlessness Is
carried into execution or actually a
severance of relations without further
waiting remained undiscloscd.
| White House officials and Secretary
Lansing followed the same course they
| have adopted on previous occasions,
when u communication had been dis
patched to Berlin and they were await
ing it's receipt in the German capital
before making announcement in this
country 1t was course OF absolute
! silence of flat refusal to disclose any
information whatever, to discuss the
subject in any way, or TO answer any
inquiries upon it.
| All the days developments followed
this same course. which has become
familiar to close observers of tho pro-
cedurc of the administration when it
is dealing with a foreign crisis.
Lansing Busy.
Secretary Lansing began the day BY
denying himself to all callers. 1t be-
came known then that he was engaged
at work ION something for the presi
dent"
Shortly before noon, the secretary
went to the White House. taking with
him some documents and instead OF
going to the executive offices, went to
the mansion itself, where hc'and tho
president conferred undlsturbed for
more than an hour. When he left the
president, Mr.. Lansing refused abso-
lutely TO discuss the situation or an
swer any inquiries. Then later in the
day when he met newspaper corre-
spondents he said:
Gentlemen, l have nothing to tell
you; neither will l answer any ques-
tions."
Iio modified his latter statement only
to say he had no communication
throughout the day with the German
ambassador, adding that there was no
prospect OF any announcement during
the night
Ono Point Of Doubt. ...
Among all officials capable of know
5 ing the probable course of tho prcsi-
dent. the only point of doubt seemed
to be whether communication to
Germany would carry only warning
or whether it would consider Ger
many's declaration sufficient in itself
9 for action.
1t was pointed out that one reason
for Withholding knowledge of the presi-
dents course is the necessity Of Gom-
: pleting certain arrangements, many of
n u physical character. to prepare the
, country for eyentualities, which would
be expected to follow IA diplomatic
break. The safeguarding of American
4 ports, safety of Americans i'll Germany,
e the presence of German ships IN
American harbors and many other con-
Il sidcrations are among them. XII
n Must Go All the Way.
!" The last correspondence with Ger
e many which demanded the total aban-
= donmcnt of such submarine warfare
Il as the central powers are about to
&c resume. declared that the United
4. States would sever diplomatic fela-
: tions altogether" That is interpreted
lc AS leaving no opportunity to half way
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