Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-02-02
5Lnx A.sociatnd Prs.

WASHINGTON. February l.-what.
ever course OF action President Wilson
has chosen To meet Gcrmany's decIara
tion of unrestricted submarine warf.r.
is known only to three or four mem
ncrS or his official family. Neither the
| 'anlhet as whole nor tho Foreign
Affairs Committee Of Congress have
been taken into his confidence
one high official close 10 tho rres
'dent declared tonight that no com
municati"n had been sent to Berlin or
to Count Won BcrnstorT. who outward,v
was expecting a vcrancc of JinIo
matte relations
ih"fc Was every indication in Official
quarters mat note had been deter
mined upon, hut the Indications as To
whether IL actually had been dispatched
were about evenly divided. with q ecw
hlgh officials as authority that il had
not, and some others who gave intima
'ions OF belief that it had.
FROM under tho curtain OF official
S'ichce' drawn closely over every
move to-day. came various indications
taken everywhere as index nn1ers
P"'"'hE toward the probab course OF
III" United states 1t was undisputed
that the United States would not ner-
mt Gcrmany's announcement to stand
without challenge
lut whether President Wilson's an
Swcr Will he solemn warning NJ
break in diplomatic relations if ,,.r
man! campaign OF ruthlessne.s is
carried int" execution. or actually
severance Of rclations without further
waiting remained undiscioscd.
FOLLOW SAVE COURSE
ADOPTED HLnErOFoRE
WHIT" House officials and Secretary
Lansing followed the same cours.
/ adopted on previous occasions when
communication had been dispatched ,o
h"rlln. and they were awaiting lis re-
c"ip, n the German capital before
making any announcement in .hix
country
secretary Lansing began by denvinr
hImS"lt to ali callers. Notwithstand-
lnt Il Was the regul..r day for receiy
'ns representatives of foreign govern
| M'h'" "t IN" state Department.. he de-
! c1""d TO receive such persons as the
siritiSh and japanese amba ssador. and
they were turned over to subordinate
officials
II became known then that Mr. Ian
sing was engaged at work ION some
tthinG for tho PRESIDENT" Shortly be.
to'H noon the secretary went to tn.
Nh'te House. taking with him some
documents, and nc and the President
conferred for more than AN hour
When he left the President AFR
Lansing refused absolutely TO discuss
the situation or answer any injuries
i.dter IN the day. when he met the
new siaper correspondents. he said:
Gentlemen. have nothing TO tell
YOU neither will | answer any cues
tons lie modified his latter STATE.
ment only 10 say he had no communi
cation throughout the day with tn.
German ambassador. adding that there
Was no prospect OF any announcement
during the night.
ONLY POINT or DEBATE
REGARDS TERMS OF NOTE
An"uS all officials capable OF know
inS the probable course OF the Pres
idcht. the only point OF debate seemed
I" he whether 4 communication 10 Ger
many would carry only warning or
whether II would consider Germanyss
declaration sufficient Ia Itself FOR.
action MI seemed 10 take Il, for
granted that decision had quickly
been determined upon. stE
II was puintcd out that one reason
for Withholding knowledge Of -" fe