Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-02-02
Severance of Diplomatic
Relations Now Regard
ed as Certain.
BERNST0RFF IN FEAR
Refused Week Ago to Give
Friends Passage Notes
to Europe.

WASHINGTON Feb. /
Whatever course of action Presi
dent Wilson has chosen to meet
Germany's declaration of unre-
stricted submarine warfare is
known only to three or four mem
bers Of his official family. Neither
the cabinet as IA whole nor the for
eign affairs committees of con-
gress has been taken into his con-
fidence.
One high official close to the
president declared tonight that no
communication had been sent to
Berlin or to Count Won Bernstorff,
who outwardly was expecting a
severance Of diplomatic relations.
There was every indication in
official quarters that a note had
been determined upon, but the in
dications as to whether it actually
had been dispatched were about
evenly divided with a few high
officials as authority that it had
not and some others who gave in
timations of belief that it had.
Must Challenge German stand.
From under the curtain OF official
silence. drawn closely over every move
today, came various indications taken
everywhere as index fingers pointing
toward the probable course OF the
United states. 1t was undisputed that
the government would not permit
Germany's announcement to stand
without challenge
But whether President Wilson's an
swer will be Il solemn warning OF
break In diplomatic relations II Ger
many's campaign of ruthlessness Is
carried into execution or actually
severance OF relations without further
waiting, remained undisclosed.
Silence l. Observed.
White House officials and Secretary
Lansing followed the same course they
have adopted on previous occasions
when a communication had been dis
ing its receipt In the German capital
before making any announcement. IL
was u course of fiat refusal to dis
close any Information whatever.
All the days developments followed
this same course which has become
familiar 10 close observers of the pro-
cedure OF the administration when II
is dealing with "a foreign crisis.
Lansing Denies Callers.
Secretary Lansing began by deny
ing himself to all callers. Notwith-
standing Il was the regular day for
receiving representatives OF foreign
governments at the state department,
he declined 20 receive such persons as
the British and japanese ambassadors
and they We're turned over to subor-
dinatc officials.
II became known that Mr. Lansing
was engaged at work ION something
Tor the president"
Shortly before noon the secretary
went to the White House taking with
him some documents and instead OF
going 10 .he executive offices, went
to the mansion itself where he and tho
president conferred undisturbed for
more than an hour,
Nothing for Papers.
When he left tho president, Mr..
i'"llNl'S I''N0cu a"o'iuttlS u ulStuS'
the situation or answer any inquiries
Then. later in the day. he met tho
newspaper correspondents and said:
Gentlemen, | have nothing to tell
you, neither will | answer any ques-
tons"
He modified his latter statement
only to say he had no communication
thruout the day with the German
ambassador adding that there was
no prospect Of any announcement
during the night
Among all officials capable of
knowing the probable course OF the
president. the only point of doubt
seemed 10 be whether communica-
ton to Germany would carry only u
warning or whether It would consd-
er Germauy's declaration sufficient
CONTINUED on PAGE SEVEN