The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-02-01
Bernstorff Delivers Docu-
ment In Which Barred
Zones" Are Drawn Around
Allies In Preparation for
Relentless u Boat Activity
For Preservation of Self,
Prussians Will Use Every
Weapon Available, Is Mott
fication Washington Of
ficials Amazed at Note.


washington, Feb. 1.-The decision
Of the Imperial German Government
to enforce through the unrestricted
use Of sword and submarine the peace
that it invited through diplomatic ne
gotiation caused a sensation in WASH
ington official circles.
The character of the communlca-
ton which Germany was expected to
make in furtherance Of its desire to
bring the world war to an end was
of an entirely different sort from that
which came over the cables from Ber-
lin yesterday. ~
The threat Of Germany to disre-
gard. the pledges she has made TO
the United y States and which Tor
more than eight months she had re-
spected-has had the effect OF pre-
cipitating crisis more grave and
menacing than any that has confront
ed the United States since the begin
ming Of the war. \
1t is difficult to foretell what may
be the results Of the first moves by
Germany in her decision to put into
operation February 1 new sea cam
paign, These will undoubtedly in
volve the most serious consequences
to the interests of every neutral coun-
try in the world.
President Wilson, who last night
was fully advised of the text Of the
German communication. was mani
testify disturbed. He had been led
to believe by informal adVices from
the German capital that the com
munication which the Kaiser's Gov
ernent would send to this country
: would make clear the exact terms
+ upon which she would consent to ne
gotiate with her enemies for peace
terms, or at least would advance sug-
gestions designed to supplement AND
strengthen the moves already made
/ by the American President in that
direction.
Not Prepared for Note.
Every official Of. the United States
from the President down was totally
unprepared for the sweeping renun-
citation by Germany of the pledges
made by it and the declarations con-
tanned In the memoranda accompany
ing the note, approving the Presl-
dents peace sentiments, which Count
Won Bernstorff handed to Secretary OF
State at o'clock yesterday afternoon,
under circumstances which were not
I lacking in dramatic interest.
The Secretary of State and the I'M
perial German Ambassador were clos
-eted for more than 40 minutes. The
German Envoy observed all the rules
and usages of formal and diplomatic
, mien in presenting to the Secretary
OF State one of the most important
communications, ever delivered by the
representative of one government te
/ that of another.
! Count Won Bernstorff Indicated BY
his manner, which is ordinarily mos,
democratic, that he personally at
tached the greatest Importance to the
communication that he had brought
with him. Simultaneous with his ap
pearance at the State Department thu
cables began to bring the text of tht
/. note and memoranda delivered to Am
eign Office at the same time it wa!
/ turned over for transmission to thu
German Ambassador.
/ Following the interview between thu
Secretary of State and Count vo1
Bernstorff, the utmost secrecy wa
observed regarding the object of tn,
1atters call, and it was not for al
;hour afterward that the tremendou.
importance of it became known
through the, press bulletins.
/ The first information that the Pres
ident received Of the~ German com
munication was shortly before fiv,
i o'clock, following his interview witt
Chairman Hoover of the Belgian Re
lief Commission. :
AS the President left hts office AM
+ started toward the White House Sec
rotary Tumulty advised him of tn,
substance of the. note, which had beef
received from one of the press as
sociations. The President declined t.
make any comment He repaired t,
the White House proper and an
nounced that he would not receiv
any callers except Secretary LANSING
When he left the State Department
Mr.. Lansing said he had no engage
ment with the President last nigh
and up to late hour he had not appear
ed at the White House. A copy Of tn
note was sent to the President by tn
Secretary Of State before dinner TIL
Secretary also denied himself to call
ers: nor would be answer any ques
, tions concerning the probable effec
OF the communication from Germany
Sensation In Diplomatic Circles.
The purport Of the German decision
to do away with the restriction
which until now it had impressed up
on the use Of it's fighting means OF
the seas created almost as great
sensation in diplomatic circles as i
had among Government; officials.
There is reason to believe, however
that the diplomatic representatives o
Great Britain and France have beef
prepared for it, as was indicated b,
statements made by some Of them t.
the writer last Monday. 1t was no
denied in diplomatic circles that tn
gravest consequences would follow tn
determination of Germany to prose
cute its war without hindrance o
treaties or previous pledges.
Diplomats as we'll as officials O
this government anticipate complica
tons that they are frank to declar,
must inevitably result in vastly NOR
damage to the interests of neutral ma
tons than have yet occurred
Indeed: there already exists pro
nounced impression in diplomatic