South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-02-13
Retiring German Official Says
Nation is Determined to
Carry Out Sub War
fare as Planned.
CORRESPONDENT WILL
ACCOMPANY BERNST0RFF
Man Responsible For State
ment That u. S. Was Ready
to Compromise is Hand
ed "Safe Conduct"
International News Service:

International News Service:
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-"Ger-
many will never renew her assur-
ances against unrestricted subma-
rine warfare"
On the eve of the departure from
the United States of Count Won
Bernstorff and his staff. the above
utteTance was made by one of the
leading retiring officials. The new
submarine campaign was entered
into. he said, after a complete toll
of the cost had been taken.
IL is the design TO starve England
and rip the entente in the field by
cutting off the supply of munitions,
this official said, and the only pos
sible concession would BE to raise
the, ban so far as neutral ships
carrying non-contraband was CON
cerned.
Takes Sharp Measures.
incidentally officials have fully
realized this. They have had the
assurance of James w. Gerard,
the retiring American ambassador
to Germany, in this respect. In con-
sequence. the administration has
made every effort TO check SUCCESS
tons which constantly are being
made that Germany's move was not
directed against the United States.
In furtherance of that desire the
state department has taken sharp
measures 10 prevent sporadic SUE
gestions that would make trouble ii
this country.
The first step in this line is to be
the departure along with Count Won
BernstOrff and his party of DR..
George Barthelme. correspondent
i'm Washington of the Cologne
Gazette. The latter, following a con
ference with Counsellor of the State
Department Frank Polk, agreed TO
return home. and a safe conduct"
was arranged for him TO accom-
pany the ambassador 10 Germany.
The doctor was responsible for
the latest suggestion from Germany
that she was willing TO negotiate
formally or informally with the
United States provided that the
commercial blockade against Eng
land was not broken.
Offer il an Insult.
There is bitter resentment i'm ad-
n1inistration circles over the offer
by Germany. where ii is character
lied as IAN insult in view of the
presidents address to congress an
nouncing the breaking off of rela-
tons, and it is also claimed that the
offer was predicated on the state
ment. sent by DR. Barthelme to his
newspaper. which has an official
status. that he had the highest au-
thOrity' for the declaration that if
Germany would agree not TO sink
American ships friendly relations
could be restored.
From now on officials Of the state
department declared irresponsible
statements regarding policies to be
pursued would he rigidly checked
up.
Already the bars have been raised
against correspondents who are al
legged to have misrepresented the
policies of, the government. and
they have found it impossible To Sc
cure credentials which will admit
them 10 the big building occupied
by the state, war and navy depart
ments.
May Force Showdown.
u becomes daily more and more
plain that a showdown on the en-
tire international policy Of this
government may be forced on the
floor OF congress Sen. La Toilette
wants 10 make an issue of his bill
which forbids the aiming of Ameri-
can merchant vessels unless the
nation is at war. The measure IS
now on the table in the senate. It's
author claims that its adoption Will
be one OF the surest of measures 10
keep the nation out Of war. He
claims support for il from Sen.
Works, Vardaman. Kirby and
Gronna. and has announced that he
will shortly call II up.
While the administration has
complete control OF the situation