Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1917 — GERMANY NOW HOLDS GERARD AS HOSTAGE [ARTICLE]

GERMANY NOW HOLDS GERARD AS HOSTAGE

American Ambassador to Be Held At Berlin Until (german Officials Are Satisfied—Situation Tense. ■ ■ ■ i—— '' ~ T Copenhagen, Feb. 6. —lt is officially stated that James W. Gerard, the American ambassador to Germany, will not be allowed to leave Berlin until the German government is satisfied as ,to the treatment of Count von Bemstorff, the retiring ambassador at Washington, by the American government. Washington, Feb. 6. —Every phase of the situation which at any hour may bring the United States to war witn Germany was discuss°d by Pres- , ident Wilson and his advisers at today’s cabinet meeting. The faint hope that Germany after all might modify her new submarine campaign so as to avoid making an active enemy of America was touched upon, as was the probable position of other neutrals. Most of the cabinet’s attention, however, was given to reports by each member upon the energetic efforts of his department of the government to prepare for war if it rSitocome. ——- In some quarters here the interview given by Foreign Minister Zimmermahn in Berlin expressing friendly feeling toward the United States was viewed as a favorable sign. Little weight was attached io.it by the cabinet, however, for the foreign minister’s remark that he hoped the American government would understand Germany’s reasons for inaugurating unrestricted warfare on the sea was construed as meaning that no change of course was to be expected. Preliminary reports of the sinking of the British steamer Eavestone and the killing of an American negro seaman are not regarded as establishing such a case as would be the signal for hostilities. Th position of the government was said to be still one of waiting after the cabinet meeting. It was stated officially that there had been no development to change that attitude. It was explained authoritatively that the next step of the United States if one is necessaVy will be taken without addressing InquiryteGermany. If American lives or shippmg are illegally destroyed by the Germans action will follow as soon as the fact is established to the president’s satisfaction. Entente diplomatic representatives here allowed it to become known during the day that while highly gratified over the break with Germany they were not at all anxious to see the United States actual!v drawn into the war. They frankly expressed a growing fear that Germany deliberately precipitated the rupture for the purpose of starting military preparations in America and thereby cutting off munitions and supplies from the allies.