The Washington times., 1917-02-12
NO PARLEY UNLESS
EDICT RENOUNCED
Such Is Expected to Be U. S.
Reply to Germany's Late
Repentance.
Continued from First Page,

CONTINUED from First Page.)
the President went before Congress
and announced a S,verance OF dipIo
matte relations between the Unite
States and Germany.
Taking part in the affair, IL is be
lieved. were Count Won Bernstorff, DR.
Ritter, several other neutral diplo
mats, several prominent German
Americans, and some of the leadin
American peace propagandists.
Objects In View.
These were the objects in view:
Ito avert war between the United
States and Germany with out requir-
ing Germany to abandon entirely her
new submarine campaign.
ITO persuade public opinion in
Germany that some slight modifca-
tons In the submarine campaign
could be made. satisfactory to the
American Government. which would
not involve a serious departure by
Germany from her announced line of
action.
S-To divide public opinion in this
country. and to stir up a strong public
sentiment which would force Presi-
dent Wilson to consent to enter into
parley with the German Govern
ment.
First Published Hint.
The first published hint of what was
going on was given in the Times
last Tuesday. when 1t was stated that
the prediction, was being made in
German quarters that the German
government was contemplating send
ing a communication of some kind to
the United States suggesting possible
notifications in the German subma-
rine blockade decree which would
give assurance against the destruc-
ton of American ships.
> The Information upon which these re-
ports were based came direct from the
representative Of New York German
American paper who was known to be
in close touch at the time with Count
Won Bernstorff.
Conference Reported.
Subsequently It was reported in re-
liable quarters that DR.. George Krch-
way. former dean of the Columbia Uni
versity School OF Law. and other prom
inent personages has been in conference
at various times since the break with
William J. Bryan. former Secretary of
man OF the Senate Foreign Relations
State; Senator William J. Stone. chair
Committee, and with various neutral
diplomatic representatives here. in an
effort to ascertain whether II would be
possible for Germany to make any mod
ifications Of its decree. or whether the
United States or any OF the neutral
countries could suggest to Germany such
notifications as would make 1t possible
for formal relations to be restored.
Extent Unknown.
To what extent former Secretary Of
State Bryan or Senator Stone listened to
the suggestions. IL. as reported. they
took part in the conference with these
self-constituted 'go-betweens," cannot
be ascertained.
1t is known. however. that the State
Department was apprised to some ex-
tent of what was going on. and that the
diplomatic representative of one Of the
leading South American Countries who
was taking an active part. received,
along about last Wednesday or Thurs
day. a sharp "oaIl down" from his gov
ernment. which ''call down." It is sus-
pected. was inspired by complaints from
Washington.
In the meantime considerable curl
osity was being aroused among fire.
quenters of the State Department by
the daily visits to the department of
one DR.. George Barthelme, Washing
ton correspondent of the Cologne Ga
zette, a citizen OF Germany, who has
been in this country less than five
years.
Wrote Bitter Articles.
1t was DR.. Barthefme, it will be re-
called, who, in the height of the ex-
citement attending the destruction of
the Lusitania in May, 1915, wrote
series OF extremely bitter articles TO
his paper, which were afterward re-
published in this country.
On the day that the President sew
cred relations with Germany, the au-
thorities OF the State, War and Navy
building issued instructions that no
one should be permitted in the build
ing without a pass, and the standing
of newspaper correspond
ents, which was asked to approve all
for newspaper passes,
was requested to take particular
pains to see to IL that no German citi-
zen was given a pass.
DR.. Barthelme was not among those