The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-02-09
The President Reluctantly
Reaches Conclusion HOstil-
tiles Are Inevitable.
WATTS CLEAR CUT CASE
BEFORE TAKING ACTION
All Hope Abandoned That
Kaiser Will Modify Sub
marine Programme.
DIsPELS REPORTS OF
GERMAN ARRESTS HERE
Treasures by Statement
That Property of Teutons
Won't Be Confiscated.

WASHINGTON, Feb. S.-The outstand-
ing features in the situation TODAY
respecting our relations with Germany
were:
The conviction now shared by every
one. including the pacifist element in
Congress. that in view of the progress
or the submarine campaign and the
California sinking there is no chance
that Germany will modify in any way
her submarine decree. despite the
hope expressed by President Wilson in
his message.
The desire of the President 10 have
absolute proof and a clear cut case
Of the violation of American rights
through the sinking of an American
ship and the loss Of American lives
before asking Congress for declara-
tion OF war against Germany.
Responsibility with Germany.
The decision of the Administration
pending the presentation of such an
issue. TO depart in no way from the
recognized practice of 4 neutral ma
ton, in order that the responsibility
lor war. when it comes. will rest en-
tirely with Germany. even though IT
involves treating with some degree OF
tolerance acts calculated to arouse the
Indignation of all Americans. This was
shown clearly to-day in the patience
displayed over Germanys action in de-
tanning Ambassador Gerard.
President Wilson has now reluc-
tantly reached the conviction that the
overt act which will lead to war be-
tween the United States and Germany
is merely question of time. lie has
steeled himself to meet the issue
squarely and unflinchngly and in a
manner in keeping with tho best ira
ditions Of the history Of the nation.
Declaration Seems Near.
There Is to be no rushing in pre-
! cipitately. no fanfare of patriotic
trumpets if the President can help 1t.
| When the President next appears be-
| fore a joint session OF Congress, which
officials believe is perhaps only a ques-
tion of hours, he hopes there will he no
outbursts of applause and no demon
strations out of keeping with the SOL
emn and unwelcome duty he will feel
called upon to perform.
The President laid the groundwork
! for this attitude to-day when he au-
! thorized a statement which was virtually
a reply to blunt threats from Berlin con-
corning reciprocal treatment of the ma
tionals of each country in the event OF
| war.
Detention OF Gerard.
News came to him through the State
! Department that the German Govern
ment had decided to detain Ambassador
/ Gerard, together with other Americans.
/ In the German Empire until 1t learned
what treatment was to he accorded
! Count Won Rernstorff and German sub
tects IN the United States II was made
clear that Germany had already been
advised that Germans on some OF the
| iuterned or refuged ships had been
placed under arrest by the American au-
| thoritieS and that tho Berlin Govoru-
/ ment was therefore taking measures 10
exact that Americans in Berlin pay the
penalty for discourteslss to Germans.
Sensational ann false reports coucorn-
/ Ing tho treatment of German nationals
have by some means reached the Ger
man authorities. The President tool,
speedy steps to put an end 20 such ip-
| pressons lie authorized tho statement
that anxiety in some quarters over
whether bank deposits and other prop
erty OF Germans in the United States
would be seized IN time OF war wa en-
tlrely without foundation.
VIII Br No Seizures.
"'rbe ,overpmc,t NJ ,lc 1-njtnd St,trS