The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-01
REPLY
OF US.
READY
It's Either Ultimatum or Notice
of Diplomatic Break.
President and Secretary of State
Prepare 1t in Secret.
REFUSE FOREIGN PASSPORTS
This Action Indicates Ructure
With Germany Imminent.
Several Courses Open to Presi-
dent in New Crisis.
This Action Indicates Ructure
With Germany Imminent.
Several Courses Open to Presi-
dent in New Crisis.
VERGE OF WAR" IS AT HAND
Kaiser Throws Sussex Note
Pledges to the Winds.
Recall Lansfng's Statement
and Presidents Threats.

Washington, Feb. 1. - President
Wilson lis about ready to announce
this governments answer to Ger
many's warning of future unrestrain-
ed naval warfare.
Acting upon instructions from the
president, Secretary Lansing has pre-
pared a communication. the nature of
which is guarded in secrecy.
At the same time the state depart
| ment has issued an order refusing
for European ports.
This action by the state department
! served to increase the tension sur
rounding all developments today -fOi--
lowing receipt of the German note.
| 1t was pointed out that refusal to
issue passports might mean either
that this government was planning to
take drastic action and foresaw an in
evitable break in relations between
the United States and Germany, or
that President Wilson had determined
to modify his former stand, prevent
Americans from travelling on the high
seas and thus maintain this country's
| neutral status.
Expect Announcement Soon.
Following an hours conference with
the president this morning. during
which the Forthcoming communities
ton from this government was dis
cussed, Lansing declared he would
probably see the newspaper men at
$3.50 this afternoon, causing general
belief that there may be an official
announcement of this governments
| decision at that time.
While no hint was available from
any quarter as to the presidents de-
cision in the case, the gravity of Sec
rotary LansingS impression after
| talking with the president indicated
plainly that most serious situation
had developed. Added to this the an
nouncement of the new passport regu-
lation led to the conviction that
break with Germany appears imnni-
nent.
1t was with a rather weary gesture
4 that Lansing, after leaving the White
House threw down on the front seat
! of his carriage the little black portfo-
| lilo. in which during the last two years
and a half, he has carried between the
state department and White House all
Of the communications and memoran-
1 da bearing on the many crises this
country has gone thru with Germany.
1t was also with a, note of some de-
lection that Lansing, flanked on all
sides by newspaper correspondents as
he entered his carriage, said:
II can say nothing now. boys. Won't
you please close the door Ind let me
go on?"
Climax of Aggrayating Cases.
| Germany's sudden declaration of her
1 intention, without warning, to destroy
all shipping over wide area comes
the climax to a long series of ag-
gravated cases in which the United
States has gathered evidence that her
| pledges to respect international law at
sea have been broken. A score of
American lives have been lost since
the slate was wiped by Germany's
promises in the Sussex case, but in
/ each instance there were conflicting
influences and in each case repeated
assurances from the German embassy
heres that nothing would De permitted
to disturb. relations with the United
! States. After each of the new sink
! ings came Informal assurances that
| Germany was ready to make amends
! If her submarine commanders had vio-
lated orders.
An evidence of the efforts Of the
! embassy here to keep relations tram
isquu is found in "A comparison of the
| note handed yesterday to Secretary
Lsnsing by Count Won Bernstorff with
| fContinued on Page TwoD