The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-02-02
POSITION or U. S.
PARTLY DEFINED
TOMORROW
State Department Will Make VuI-
ing for Owners of hipping
PRESIDENT MEETS CABINET
Belief in Washington that Wilson
viii Take Vigorous Action
Against German Program.

Washington, Feb. 3.--In response
to an inquiry at the state department
concerning the request for ruling
the movement Of ships and made
by the officials of the American line
it was stated today that statement
would be issued tomorrow.
The answer is regarded as signii-
cant in view Of the fact that no ruling
could be made until after the govern
ment had arrived at some decision in
relation to Germany's declaration for
unrestricted submarine warfare.
President Wilson conferred with
members of the cabinet today and
with Senator Stone, chairman Of the
foreign relations committee. 1t was
announced that no statement would
be issued today.
1t is believed that President Wilson
has already taken, or begun, vigorous
action against Germany's program of
ruthless submarine warfare against
the ships of enemies and neutrals in
the danger zones about entente
coasts. but that action has so far been
kept an absolute secret.
1t is the belief that the United
States will not submit to the terms of
the German note. but Secretary Lans-
ing will answer no questions and not
word has come from the president.
The cloak of secrecy covers all, but
1t is stated on good authority that no
communication has been sent to Ber
lin or to County Bernstorff; but it Is
also believed that some definite step
has been taken.
This lends color to a statement sent
from Washington to the New York
Evening Post by David Lawrence TO
the effect that the president has de-
cided that the submarine program
shall not go into effect If the moral
and physical power of the United
States can be marshaled to prevent
1t; and that this will be exerted
through concerted action by neutral
nations. These nations, according to
dispatches last night, are waiting for
the United States to move.
A dispatch from London last night
said: THE eyes of Great Britain
and all Europe are focused on Wash
ington. 1t is recognized that the
question whether the United States
finally will be drawn into the Euro
pean war is being decided there. Not
only the policy of the United States
but of the neutral European nations is
also being largely determined In
Washington. From Spain, Holland
and the Scandinavian countries, mess
Al t.f. t1.ot
they are waiting for the lead which
the United States will give before
framing their replies to the German
announcement of unfettered mari
time war against all cargo vessels ap-
proatching her enemies coast"
What ever course of action Presi-
dent Wilson has chosen is known on
ly TO three of four members OF his of
cial family Neither the cabinet as
whole nor the foreign affairs com.
mittee of Congress have been taken
into his confidence.
One high official close to the presi-
dent declared last night that no COM
munication had been sent to Berlin
or to Count Won Bernstorff. The
German embassy late yesterday pro-
fessed to have absolutely no know
ledge OF developments. So sure was
Count Won Bernstorff that his pres
ence would not be required at the EN-
bassy that he called his automobile
and went to moving picture theatre.