Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-02

l
Convinced Break Must Come.
On every hand officials are convinced
| that nothing less than break In dipio-
natic relations is the ultimate develop
ment. 1t may be delayed. but they all
expect 1t to come unless there is some
wholly unexpected developmentT-in the
situation.
AS another day of tension began opin-
! ion was about even as to whether any
communication actually had peeh us
matched to Berlin. There was no ooupl
that Secretary Lansing yesterday pad
nrepared q document for President WIZ
son. but whether it had gone further
was not known.
There seemed to be no doubt. how,
eyer that some communication had
gone to Ambassador Gerard, probably
Warming him of the steps the Cn1ted
States felt compelled to take ana CIV
ing him an opportunity, however Inn
leyiate the possible hardships Of Amer
leans in Germany. The government $
best information Is that there are ABOUT
5000 there. Doubtless some eHorts
would be made to get them over the
line into Holland or into some OIL the
other adjacent neutral countries.
Embassy Silent, But Confident.
The German embassy continued its
official silence, calmly prepared FOR the
break Count Won Bernstorff has said
privately he expects, but serenely con-
fident that the German governments
action. irrespective of the protests Of
neutrals, will be the winning factor of
the war.
The entente embassies, fully expect
ing the United States to break with
Germany. seem to be confident that the
new campaign of ruthlessness will be
of little greater effectiveness than the
campaign which the entente govern
ments contend the German SUD
marines have been waging all along
despite the pledges given in the Sussex
note. a few more ships may be sunk,
they think, but they expect the British
navy 10 meet the new attack success
fully.
in the United States by the administra-
ton to prepare the country pnyslcaliy
for a break with first-ciass power
which in history always has been Iol-
lowed, sooner or later. by war. are pc
ing carried out secretly, but with eXpe-
dition. 1t is officially denied that any
orders whatever have been given TO
army, navy or coast guard, but there
are evidences that the agencles OF the
stens necessary to follow a diplomatic
break.
No Word Yet From Austria.
The state Department has made no
ran,x- 70 the telegram from the Inter-
national Mercantile Marine asking IN
s,rnctions for movements of American
ships. No announcement similar TO
Austria.
From the official refusal to afhrm OF
deny that any message had gone
forward to Ambassador Gerard an IND
nression grew that some such message
mad been sent, but 1t was thousht AT
most a message to outline pre-
liminary statement of the American
viewpoin, without definitely commit
ling the country till a final decision has
been reached.
country was waiting for some state
ment or at least an ofi1clal lnterpreta-
tion of the attitude OF the admlhistra-
ton. Officials declined. however, TO
exnress themselves in this way or to
CIV whether the situation was becom-
ing more or less serious. While yester-
day it was said fatty that no announce
ment would be made Tor the rest OF the
day officials refused today to commit
thonaaIyes to a similar announcement.
Mr.. Stone May See President.
In addition to the expected outline of
tho Presidents decision at the cabinet
meeting this afternoon it was believed
,,rohahle Chairman Stone of the Senate
roraipp relations committee would see
the President.
AnnarentIy no plans had been made
for the President to address Congress.
"a high official close to the chief
stated that no communities
ton had been sent to Count Won Bern
stor. the German ambassador.
Coi 70. NJ. House left here last night
after spending the day in conference |
with President Wilson and several
close advisers Of the President.
N was pointed out that one reason
for withholding knowledge of the
Presidents course is the necessity of
completing certain arrangements. many
of a physical character. to prepare the
country for eventualities which would
be expected to follow diplomatic
break. The safeguarding or American