Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1917-02-17

7pectively German and Ausireur,
garian ambassadors 10 the f--.
States. of their concept of ar.,aa
chaatmen and their liability -.
tack As warShps.
Tht final decision on an our..........
submarine campaign of >o.-....
ruthless type apparently was taken
tie grand Ausro-German conf...r.
ut German headquarters on the a..
man emperor's birthday, Though a-
Associated Press heard the statam..
that submar ines departing Sewers.
days earlier for stations on the .rt
marine hunting grounds were prey5...
with contingent orders for this -yar...
ality.
The censorship, however shut dawn
tightly on any definite Statements ~
predictions Of the approaching .#...
the Associated Press being then 81.
formed from usually reliable source.
that it was desired for marine ia.
technical reasons to have the decision
come as surprise
Gerard Hears Gossip.
This intimation was conveyed ..
tidentially TO the German new>p..sr.
All dispatches going into The subject .-
detail, however, We're either suppressed
entirely or references TO coming a.aa..
censored out Of them. and the oas 20.
source was to use again and agaH -a.
word Blockade" in discussions e.. ~.r.
marine possibilities
Ambassador Gerard, OF course. wa,
also aware OF the current gossip ar.
probably was able TO advise the Stale
department of the possible tau ia
events, even While The echoes ot hl>
banquet speech We're still resouu4H.
Threaten to Hold Writer'S
AS to the attitude of the Gema
government toward The possible hold
ing of American newspaper mea 81,
hostages in the event of the failure u.
the United States to act on the tfore-
Sition for the renewal of the old rs.a-
ties between the governments, Il is
known that the protocol, which Count
Monrgelas. head of the American d..
submitted TO Ambassador Gerard on
the part of Foreign Secretary Zlmuu.
mann contained besides formal re.
ratification of the treaty provisions If
1899 and 1898 regarding mutual treat
ment of nationals caught in "a belh-ya
ent country in the case Of war. aA.
Der of important additions and exsu.
Sions.
Ambassador Gerards refusal o
sign the treaty after he had ceased
to perform his ambassadoral f.u-
lions or to telegraph for instruction.,
unless he was permitted to use code
led Count Montgelas to hint THAT
refusal 10 sign the protocol might
materially affect the status of Amel
cans in Germany and the privilege ot
departure, mentioned specifically, ~
the American correspondents whom
Ambassador Gerard desired to mae
out with him and whose fatc ar
parently was thought to carry ua
ticular weight in American public
opinion.
This intmation of the possibility or
OBTAINING Americans. even under .b-
status of a rupture Of diplomatic re
lations, not war, and the use OF news
paper representatives as supposed't
! important pieces upon the diplomat
chessboard, caused Mr., Gerard to
declare roundIy that he could lot ne
a party 10 amy such pressure, as
/ that he doubted whether any of 'ae
newspaper men could be "saoa
bagged" or influenced in any way ty
/ considerations Of personal safety Or
convenience, and that he must pe..
sist in his earlier expressed stand
point regarding >these negotiations
From that point nothing further
was heard of the protocol or OF ,a'
( possibility of OBTAINING Americans
Influenced by Dispatches.
The German governments attitude
undoubtedly was Influenced 10y e
/ press dispatches with which the G,.-
man newspapers were then too1'-
] asserting that German ships We're '.-
/ ing seized and their crews internei
/ the United States, these dispatches .-
ing virtually the only news Whiea We
government was then receiving. a9 ".
cial communications from Coun'
/ Bernstorf having come since 81
several days before the rupture ..
/ lations
A. soon as authoritative in."
/ ton was received in direct disia
rhat the reports of the conn~s
of ships and the interument OF S
! were incorrect and that mo op>.
were being placed IA the Wa<
+ Count Won Berustords departure
/ a safe-conduct arrangements IT,.
issuance of passports to the aa
, dor and his suite began 70 p.#
with marked accelerarioa.
Had they been in possession =.
rect authoritative information "a
true status of affairs in Ameri1a
cials declared repeatedly 10 The
GATED Press correspondent, Instt
beng forced to depend upon a