Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-05
BIC GERMAN PARTY
GOING WITH ENVOY
All Consular Officers Expected
to Sail With Count Won
Bernstorff.
LIKELY TO GO VIA CUBA

Arrangements are being made for all
German consuls and consular officials in
the United States to accompany Count
Won Bernstorff and the German embassy
staff out Of the country. The whole party
more than 300 in all-probably will go
via Cuba and Spain.
DR. Paul Ritter Swiss minister. now in
charge of German diplomatic interests
here. is conducting negotiations with As
sistant Secretary Phillips of the State
Department for the departure OF the Ger
man staffs.
Confer Through Swiss Envoy.
The counselor of the Swiss legation con-
ferred today with Secretary Phillips. and
it was said that the plans were being
delayed only while information of steam
ship and transportation facilities were
being gathered. The first step is to mobi-
lie all the German consular forces In
time to join Count Won Bernstorffs party.
At first it had been planned for the
party to leave on some steamer sailing
from New York, but after further con-
sideration it was thought better, In
view of the circumstances. that the
departure be made from some less
thickly settled community.
Under the tentative plans. the consuls
and their families will go to Havana,
by way of Key West. from various
parts of the country. while the en-
bassy staff will go directly south from
Washington. A Spanish steamer large
enough to accommodate all Germans
is due to sail from Havana for Spain
February 20. but 1t is considered prob
able all the party will arrive in the
Cuban capital several days before that
time.
May Go Through France.
From Spain it is planned for the
party to go to Switzerland, either by
rail through France or by steamer to
Italy and then by rail. In either case
safe conducts will be required for the
party. and probably will be secured by
the United States.
1t also was learned today that Count
Won Bernstorff and members OF his
staff will take with them when they
depart only their personal belongings.
All the furniture and fixtures in the
embassy will be left behind.
While the Swiss minister has not yet
been authorized by his government to
take over the affairs of the embassy. it
is not doubted that authorization will
be given. The minister probably will
install several Swiss clerks in the EN-
bassy offices to carry on necessary
business.
Object to Cuban Route.
There is understood to be some objec-
ton by American officials to the Ger
man party going by way of Cuba and
Spain, because it would be necessary for
them to pass through France or Italy.
both hostile countries, and that might
make some difficulties in securing the
safe conducts.
An effort is being made to get the
party to sail from New York on ship
which would take them to Denmark
OF a Scandinavian port.
Action similar to that taken in the
case of Count Won Bernstorff undoubt-
edly will be followed in the cases OF
the new Austro-Hungarian amoassa-
dor and the representatives OF Turkey
and Bulgaria in the expected event
that their governments officially in
dorse the policy announced by Ger
many for the Unrestricted use OF sub
marines against belligerent and neu-
trail commerce.
It is assumed that Austria-Hungary
already has declared its adherence to
the German policy. and the other two
allies can hardly do otherwise.
May Not Present Credentials.
At the State Department today it
was stated that nothing had yet been
settled regarding the status of Baron
Won Tarnowsky, the new Austrian en-
voy, but it seems to be accepted that
he will return to his own country
without undergoing the formalities
even of presenting his credentials.
Statements were made at both the
British and French embassies today
that 1t is not likely that any question
will be raised as to the safe return to
their countries of either the German or
Austrian ambassadors or OF the rep
resentatiyes of Turkey or Bulgaria in
the event of severance of relations
with those countries. No obstacles will
be put in the way Of their passage
across the Atlantic and. it is declared,
safe conduct will be granted without
delay in case it is requested by the
United States government.
Although Baron Won Tarnosky has
paid his respects to Secretary Lansing
and Counselor Polk he has not yet
formally asked either of them to make
an appointment for his reception by