South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-02-20
President is Waiting 10 See
lust How Far Germany
intends to Go Before
He Acts in Matter.
DETERMINED GERMANY
MUST FORCE THE ISSUE
Administration at Present is
Not Prepared to Furnish
Guns or GunnerS to
American Liners.
InterLatLonaI - servIce


WASHINGTON, Feb. 2O.-Because
there is serious doubt in the mind of
Pres't Wilson regarding the real in
tentions Of the officials at the head
of the German submarine activities,
no action has been taken 70 relieve
the ship blockade in American ports.
The president. officials closest 10 him
assert. believes that the next few
days will show just how far Ger
many intends 20 press her hostile
measures against neutrals. That is
the reason why he will take no ac-
tion 10 have the American line re-
sumo its sailings.
The fact that the officials Of that
line continue to put the question of
sailings'' up TO the administration
viii not hurry action, officials say.
pres't Franklin has been told how
10 resume sailings and has been told
that this country will insist that the
rights OF his vessels be protected.
He can arm them il he so desires
hut under existing circumstances the
United States will not furnish either
arms or gunners. But the present
poucy of the administration will not
Ice changed unless Germany forces
the issue.
May Avoid Next step"
Simply because there has been
no overt act" by Germany the sririt
OF hopefulness that next step"
can be avoided continues 10 grow Iva
official circles. lt is accepted here
that the breaking of diplomatic re-
latous has had a salutary effect ON
the orders 20 submarine command
ers or course. il is not known. and
PROBABLY cannot be learned. whether
direct instructions 10 avoid creating
"a new issue with the United States
has gone To- German submarine com
manders Naturally III such orders
have been issued they would not he
permitted 20 become known mas
much as IL would be construed by
Germany's enemies as an admission
of weakness But. il easily would
be possible. officials point out, for
such action 20 DE taken. And. the
effect would he 20 conhne the break
between Germany and the United
Stltes 20 a diplomatic one only
Tn this connection. there is a
vague and undeveloped suggestion
i'm the diplomatic atmosphere here
that new move i'm the direction Of
peace may shortly be looked for. II
is suggested in confidential converse
tons I'm certain embassies and lega-
tions that il would be well 20 watch
sweden and Spain. Their diplomatic
representative here disdain 10 dis
cusS these suggestions. But one
amba ssador here i'm Washington
pointed out that this would be the
n~oper attitude IL a new move was
in progress. He called attention to
the fact that public suggestions that
the war be ended. first made by
Spain and then later made by Pres Z
Wilson have utterly failed. Secret
diplomacy might be more success
ful. he said.
known Only To Three.
Whether there is any knowledge
or such a development az the white
house and the state department Is
known only 10 Pres't Wilson Sec'N
lansing and Counsellor Polk. And.
for obvious reasons no one of this
Trio will discuss the situation IN any
way.
Meanwhile. the intensive prepar-
ations % this government 20 meet
ANY emergency that may arise con-
thine. Prcs't Wilson has directed
that ne be furnished Immediately
with an exact appraisement OF the
condition OF both the army and the
navy II viii deal with both per
sonnet and with armament. From
8, the president will decide what IS
most needed TO make the defensive
arms az the nation completely eff
fective.
Newspapers Of the country have
been asked by the navy department
10 cooperate I'm keeping secret move
1neDts Of naval craft OF any sort IL
Is explained that such action will
greatly assist in the program OF ma
tIonaI defense and from now on there
viii lie no information available.