Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 89, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 February 1917 — U. S. ULTIMATUM SENT GERMANY [ARTICLE]

U. S. ULTIMATUM SENT GERMANY

Von Bernstorf! Fears a Break With Washington • X WILSON CONFERS WITH AIDS Lansing and Col. House at White House Conference—Passports to Americans are Discontinued. Washington, Feb. 2.—Whatever course of action President Wilson has Chosen to meet Germany’s declaration of unrestricted submarine warfare is known only to three or. four members of his official family. Neither /the cabinet as a whole nor the foreign affairs committee of congress have been taken into his confiedence. One high official close to the president declared that no communication had been sent to Berlin or to Count von Bernstorff, who outwardly was expecting a severance of diplomatic relations. Note Determined On. There was every indication in official quarters that a note had been determined upon, but the indications 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 giving intimations of a belief that it hqd. From under the curtain of official silence, drawn closely over every move, came various indications taken everywhere as index fingers pointing toward the probable course of the United States.

, It was undisputed that jhe government would not permit Germany’s announcement to stand without challenge. Issue of Passports Suspended. Every channel of government activity was prepared for serious business. The state department announced that the Issue of all passports would be suspended. No reason for the suspension was announced, and no Indication of how long it will continue was given. The navy department and the treasury department Issued orders tightening up to the last notch the “neutrality” arrangements along the Atlantic coast. Orders were issued adding 22 destroyers to the neutrality squadron. The decks were cleared for whatever diplomatic developments the ominous morrow may bring forth. But whether President Wilson’s answer will be a solemn warning of a break in diplomatic relations if Germany’s campaign of ruthlessness is carried into execution, or actually a severance of relations without further waiting, remained undisclosed. It became known then that Mr. Lansing was engaged at work “on something for the president.”

Confers With President. Shortly before noon the secretary went to the White, House, taking with him some documents, and instead of going to the executive offices went to the mansion itself, where he and the president conferred undisturbed for more than an hour. When he left the president Mr. Lansing refused absolutely to discuss the situation or answer any inquiries. * Among ail officials capable of knowing, the probable course of the president the only point of doubt seemed" to be whether a communication to Germany would carry only a warning or whether it would consider Germany’s declaration sufficient in itself for action. All seemed, to take It for granted that a decision had qufckly been determined upon. ‘'it was pointed out that one reason for withholding knowledge of the president’s course is the necessity of completing certain arrangements, many of a physical character, to prepare the country for eventualities which would be expected to follow a diplomatic break. The last correspondence with Germany, which- demanded the total abandonment of such submarine warfare as the central! powers- are about to resume, declared that the United States would sever diplomatic relations “altogether.” That is interpreted as leaving no opportunity for halfway measure's; it means the withdrawal of Ambassador Gerard and the whole embassy staff f«em BerHn -arid the closing of the German embassy here.'. The only announcement the German ambassador made was to deny a published report that he had told a friend he expected to receive his passports within forty-eight hours. There was no denying, however, that Count von Bernstorff fully expected the actionuf the United States to be swift and decisive. The usual cabinet meeting will be held today, when, for the first timet all the members may know definitely of the president’s attitude. House Sees Wilson. Col. E.M. House spent the day here.

In addition to a long talk with the president, he saw Secretary Lansing, Counsellor Polk of the state department. Secretary McAdoo and Postmaster General Burleson. It was stated that the president had made no arrangements for going before congress, hut it was considered possible that he might decide to adopt lids step at any time.