The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1917-02-13
BerIin's Suggestion That America
Pledge Security Of All German
Vessels In Port When War
Breaks Out May Be Ignored
WASHINGTON FEELS THE
" DETENTION OF SAILORS
Bernstorff With His Countess
Gets Ready To Bid cood-by To
Capitol Where He Has Been
Stationed For Eight Years
tAssociated Press BY Federal wireless.)

"
Wv , JAsHINGT0N, February Ia
" Germany's proposal that the
~ United States reaffirm the
treaties between the Empire and this
country, which were signed in 1928 and
1923, has reached the state department
through the Swiss ministry here. The
note is in French and pending its
translation for the use of the President
and the secretary of state, none of the
officials Of the department viii say
more than that IL confirms the press
reports Of its general tenor as printed
some days ago.
Basing their statements on the pub
lished accounts Of the proposal, as re-
eeived here from Berlin, officials, who
are familiar with the text Of the old
treaties declared that the present pro-
posal is different, so different that IL
constitutes what practically amounts 70
a new treaty.
Germany proposes that the United
States enter into an agreement with
Iiers Wherehys Rlk tships pf cifhff. barry
to the treaty should, in ch14 Of war
breaking out between the Contracting
parties, be exempt from capture BY the
other while in the ports Of the other ma
tion Immediately after the declaration
of war. This Of course would mean that
should the present diplomatic crisis be-
tween this country and Germany reach
the point of an open declaration Of
war, the German ships now in Ameri-
can, ports would be exempt, aud that
the United States would be ppwerless
to seize them.
While no Official would make any
statement regarding the probable atti-
tude of the government on the pro-
posal, il is generally felt in unofficial
circles here that the United States will
pay no attention TO the Communication
from Berlin beyond the formal ac-
acknowledgement of its receipt from the
Swiss minister.
The fat refusal of President Wilson
and Secretary Lansing yesterday to
consider the proposal from Berlin for a
parley regarding the submarine situa-
tion is taken here as an indication Of
the governmental attitude towards all
such propositions from the Kaiser 4
ministers.
II was formally announced by Seere.
tary Lansing yesterday afternoon that
the United States will not enter into
negotiations with Germany while the
Kaiser's proclamation calling for unre
stricted submarine warfare Is still IL
force. II was further announced that
no negotiations with Berlin would bs
considered until that government 10
stores the effectiveness Of the solemn
pledge which Germany made following
the attack on the British Channe
steamer Sussex.
action of Germany in OBTAINING thu
seyenty,two American sailors who wer'
taken to Germany on the British steam
er Yarrowdale, a prize Of the German
raider, captured In the south Atlantic
is growing more acute. It Was fel
that in view of the fact that German,
had formally agreed to release th
| sailors, Immediately after the seyerinl
Of all diplomatic relations between tn
countries, and that as their Illegal de
tention was the cause given for break
ing of relations between the two coun
tries, that any effort on the part 0
Germany to evade her obligations
would be TO stretch still more the Al
ready tense situation. The deman
from Berlin that the United States gov
ernment supply the German foreign oi
fee with information regarding III
status Of German sailors in the Unite
States, and the announcement that tn
Kaiser's government proposed TO hol
our men prisoners until satisfied regard
ing the treatment Of Germans In thi
country added not little TO the gray
ity Of the situation IL
Former German ambassador Cour
Won Bernstorh, accompanied by hi
wife will say good-by to Wbshingto
this afternoon, on his way home to Gel
many, via Halifax Yesterday afte
moo, a host Of his friends called upo
him and watched him burn q heap I
private letters, the accumulation {
eight years in the United States
was declared that his expression as |
watched the letters burn was anythin
but pleasant, and that once or twice !
admitted that he found the task di
agreeable,