The sun., 1917-02-17
Wilson Sends Series of In
quiries About Americans
in Germany.
ASKS If YARROWDALE
MEN ARE RELEASED
-
Wants to Know Why U. s.
COnsuis and Families =
Are Detained.
DATA SOUGHT ALSO
ON ANY INDIGNITIES
Daniels and Baker Are
Stumbling Blocks in De-
fence Plans.

WASHINGTON, FEB. 10. - President
Wilson took action to-day designed
to checkmate any plans Germany may
have for delaying this Governments
decision in the present crisis.
/ He directed that all outstanding
matters of uncertainty with respect
to the status of Americans in Germany
be made the subject of immediate
communication to the proper authors
ties, and he directed the State Depart-
ment to bring to a speedy close nego-
tiations which DIR. Paul Ritter, the
Swiss Minister. has initiated on behalf
of the German Government
The President is understood to want
! the decks cleared for whatever action
/ he desires to take in the present in
! tolerable situation. There are ac-
cumulating evidences of tendency ON
the part of Germany to keep all mat
I ters pertaining to the two Govern
ments in an indefinite state in order
presumably to gain time for the prose-
cution of the starvation campaign
against Great Britain.
Presidents steps.
President Wilson'S decision WAS evil
, denccd to-day by IA series of communica-
! tonS which Went from the State De.
! partmcnt to Berlin via the intermediary
channel. The President wants to know
/ definitely whether the seyenty-two
American sailors captured on the Var
rowdale have or have not been released.
lie wants to know definitely why the re-
naming American consular officers and
their families are detained in Germany,
! and he also wants additional information
( concerning reported indgnitics to Amer
, leans who have succeeded in getting out
of Germany. There is every reason to
! believe that Germany is playing for time
on AL of these matters and deliberately
delaying replies to previous inuuirIes
made by the United states.
/ So far as the apparent efforts of Ger
many through DR., Ritter to institute pro-
iohged discussion of the revised form of
, the treaty of l1e9-tS2S are concerned
| the President directed to-day that a
, statement be given to the press to-mor-
row concerning this Governments att!-
tude.
Or. Ritter conferred with Counsellor
Polk at the State Department on this
and other matters lie found Mr.. Polk
I in no mood to enter into academic dis
treaty should be made binding between
the two Governments lie found that
Mr POLK did not believe measures Of this
sort were needed to guarantee fair treat
ment Tor Germans in the United States
Wilson's Statement Cited.
Mr.. Polk referred him to President Will
son statement of last week setting
forth the fact that German rights and
German
Tested even in the event of hostilties
Mr. Polk was only mildly interested in
the explanation of why Germany had
sought to rcpudiate its informal offer
of "A few days ago concerning willingness
to negotiate over the C-boat decree pro-
vided its effectiveness was not impaired.
1t is understood tonight that Austria
Hungary has made it known to this Gov
erument through Ambassador Pentield
that war with Germany would necessa-
rily mean war between the United States
and Austriali Hungary as we'll Austria,
ii is explained, is bound to side with her
ally and would consider the United States
as an enemy country in case Of a clash
between Germany and the United States.
The Ballplatz has apparently sought
10 bring pressure to bear on President
Wilson to so slow before taking active
measures on behalf OF American rights.
Mr.. Pentield and the Foreign Office at
Vienna terminated abruptly.
There Is said to be "A plan under consld-
Grafton in Vienna whereby Austrian sub
marines operate under different rules
from the German U-boats, thereby leav-
ing Austria Hungary in the position or
indorsing Germany's starvation blockade
against Great Britain without being di-
rectly identified with II,
1t il recalled that in the past the
Dual Monarchy adopted rules for sub
marines which differed from the German
and sanctioned only a so-called cruiser
warfare,"> while Berlin carried out Il
; submarine campaign OF reprisal against
the British blockade.
: Mr.. Grew's Transfer.
|, is believed that developments in the
r Austro-H ungarian situation will come
more slowly than first anticipated. The
, fact that Joseph Clark Grew. first secre-
: tary to the American Embassy in Berlin.
: has been transferred to the American
, Embassy in Vienna is taken as an ind-
cation OF this,
, There are many reasons why Pres :
, dent Wilson desires to maintain relations
between Austria Hungary and the United
states as long as possible, One is the
fact that the United States IL looking
:. after war prisoners there and the eradi-
ca ton of American interests would be
: embarrassing in many ways. But this
Government Is entertaining now no hope
of being able to keep on a pacific basis
with Austria-Hungary once open rup.
y ture with Germany has begun.