Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-11
May Be Maneuver to Gain
Time or Sincere Conci|ia-
ton Proffer.
SOME THINK 1T AN EFFORT
TO SHIFT RESPONSIBILITY
In Meantime President Wilson Is
Keeping Up Vigorous Prepara-
tion for Any Eventuality.

open a discussion with the Onlted
States of means of preventing
war between them.
In seeking an exchange OF
views on the subject, however, it
is not understood that the Berlin
government has proposed any
modification of its ruthless sub
marine campaign, and officials
here feel they cannot enter upon
such a discussion while vessels
continue to be destroyed in vio-
lation of international law.
May Safeguard Americans on Seas.
The new move is understood to be
predicated upon a willingness on Ger
many's part to discuss especially the
safeguarding of American ships and
American lives on the seas. and backed
by a renewed expression of the desire
of the German government to prevent
the diplomatic breech from leading to
actual hostilities. Just how American
interests are to be safeguarded If the
German war zone proclamation is to
stand, however, and whether any spe-
cific means of preserving peace between
the two nations is included in the COM
munication. has not been revealed.
Because of the delicacy of the situa'
tion, in fact. all officials refuse to dis
cuss it in detail or even to indicate
through what channels the communica
tion was addressed to the American
government.
What may be the ulterior motive back
Of the step also .is q matter .0f spaeD3e-
aieR feeling In sgRs sss hfss = fFjasa
time. designed to postpone any further
action by the United States until the
starvation blockade against England
either has succeeded or failed. Else
where there are suggestions that there
may be behind 1t sincere desire to.
make sacrifices to preserve peace be-
tween the United States and Germany.
and may come as response to the APP
peals understood to have been sent
abroad by pacifists in this country.
President Keeps on Preparing.
In any event. there is no evidence that
President Wilson is contemplating any
other course than vigorous preparation
of the nation for the eventuality which
he warned against in his address to
Congress If American rights are vio-
lated.
Up to last night no official evidence
had been received to show that the
feared overt act had been committed.
Aside from the new German commune
cation interest in official circles CEN
tered chiefly in the course of Berlin
officials In placing obstacles in the way
of the departure of Ambassador
Gerard. Great resentment has been
aroused here over this incident, but
officials have indicated that as soon as
the ambassador is safely out of Ger
many they will be disposed to consider
the matter closed.
Although definite information regarding
the channel through which the German
communication was directed Is lacking, it
| is considered certain that it has been
| forwarded by the government of Switzer-
| land. The Swiss minister here, who has
taken over German interests in this coun-
try called at the State Department yes-
| terday afternoon and saw Counselor Polk
Both refused to discuss the conference
but it is considered probable the minister
on behalf of Germany. communicated that
governments views If he did, the Ger
man suggestions were, it is believed
given orally.
Present Efforts More Formal.
! 1t is regarded as improbable that spe-
| cific suggestions would be put forward
| at least until the United States indi-
Gates in some way its sentiment toward
the general proposal for discussion.
| The development, however, served to
| draw attention again to the proposals
| for distinctive markings Of vessels and
arrangements for passage of American
assenger-carrying liners in the note
announcing unrestricted submarine
| warfare.
| 1t was disclosed last night that when
| Count Won Bernstorff informed the
| United States of the new German policy
| last week, an effort was made to bring
about a discussion. apparently designed
| to result in the United States agreeing not
| to take any serious action. and that ad-
ministration officials fatty declined to
consider it. The present efforts. while
more or less different in character, are
loked upon as being more formal in ma
/ ture than those made at first.
| Some light also was, thrown upon
| Germany's point of view when 1t was
learned yesterday that while the Ber-
| lin government was arranging for the
new campaign of ruthless warfare. Ger
| tain German diplomats in various parts
of the world were notified that while
military necessity" prevented the
| might adjust their maritime interests.
every care would be exercised that neu-
| trail and especially American. passen-
| ger-carrying ships would not be sub
| jected to unwarned submarine attack.
May Have to Withdraw First.
The manner in which the new German
/ proposal was received in official quar-
ters left the impression that there was
F.! little possibility of favorable re-
{ Spouse here. The attitude of officials
has been that only two courses are
open to Germany-that she must either
! pursue her ruthlessness at the hazard
of war with this country, or restore her
/ repudiated pledges given in the Sussex
case.
| 1t has been felt here that Germany
has been warned more fully than she
/ had any right to expect regarding the
attitude of the United States, and that
she decided on her course with full
knowledge Of it's results. 1t is not felt
that Germany will be in a position to
negotiate in the matter until she has
withdrawn from q campaign which the