The Fargo Forum And Daily Republican

Unrestricted Naval
Warfare by Kaiser
Brings This Nation
to the Verge of War

Wilson and Lansing Confer Today--Admitted Course of
Action is Decided Upon--United States Barred From
Free Use of Portion of the High Seas

(By Associated Press.)

Washington, Feb. 1.--President Wilson and Secretary Lansing discussed the submarine situation for an hour today after Mr. Lansing had worked all morning on a document which he took with him to the White House.

After the conference Mr. Lansing refused categorically to say what had been decided upon.

It is admitted that a course of action has been decided upon but it is said that certain steps must be taken before it is announced.

A warning to Germany that a severance of diplomatic relations will follow the putting into effect of such a campaign of ruthlessness as she has announced or an actual severance on Germany's announcement as it stands are among the possibilities. There is no official ground, however, for stating that either of these courses has been selected although one is generally expected.

Congress, generally recognizing the gravity of the international situation, today showed no inclination to arouse discussion of the issue while President Wilson was forming a course of action.

Many members thought he probably would address congress in the near future.

Washington, Feb. 1.--After an hour's conference between President Wilson and Secretary Lansing it became known today that the German situation is viewed with extreme gravity and that the American government had already begun to formulate definite steps.

It was regarded as not impossible that action of some kind has already been taken but there was no indication of its nature.

There also were indications that no announcement of the course of the government would be made until certain steps have been taken through the navy department and the treasury for safeguarding American ports and other interests.

It was disclosed that President Wilson and Secretary Lansing had a conference last night although it was then denied they had conferred at all.

It was indicated today that before the course of the United States was made public there were certain necessary steps to be taken.

Senator Hitchcock, Democrat, member of the senate foreign relations committee, was at the White House early today but said he did not discuss the submarine question.

DIPLOMACY MAY BE SWEPT ASIDE

Passports for Count Von Bernstorff, orders for recall of Ambassador Gerard, solemn warnings to Berlin that breach of her pledges means severance of diplomatic relations or tense waiting for an overt act which would sweep aside diplomacy and bring the American government to the point of action, are among the contingencies which fill the situation today.

President Wilson conferred with Col. E. M. House, his friend and adviser, who was hurriedly summoned from New York.

Germany's sudden declaration of her intention without warning to destroy all shipping over a wide area comes as a climax to a series of aggravated cases in which the United States has gathered evidence that pledges to respect international law have been broken.

A score of American lives have been lost since the slate was wiped by Germany's promises in the Sussex case. But in each instance there were assurances from the German embassy here that nothing would be permitted to disturb relations with the United States.

An evidence of the effort of the embassy here to keep relations tranquil is found in a comparison of the note handed yesterday to Secretary Lansing by Count Von Bernstorff with the one handed by the Berlin foreign office to Ambassador Gerard.

WIDE DIFFERENCE IN LANGUAGE.

The note published in Berlin announces in bold terms the determination of Germany to wield every weapon at her command without quarter while the note presented to the American state department expresses the same thing in softened language.

The German embassy for months has been building up an atmosphere of hopefulness and at one time it was said that Von Tirpitz, who originated the campaign of ruthlessness actually had been forced from his high position by influences brought to bear by the German ambassador here in an effort to preserve good relations with the United States. Now it is frankly disclosed that Von Tirpitz was deposed because he did not carry the campaign of ruthlessness far enough, that he was unprepared and had an insufficient number of undersea ships to make this force effective and was punished for his shortsightedness. Now the officials who speak for Germany in this country unhesitatingly announce a plan to starve out England with a fleet of submarines which they estimate at between 300 and 500 and they think they can cut off the food supply of the British Isles completely within 60 days.

American officials are not convinced that Germany's announcement of a campaign of ruthlessness reveals the entire situation.

There have been intimations of dissension between the entente allies, all of which, however, have been officially denied and there are other circumstances which have come into possession of the American government but are not being disclosed which give grounds for the possibility that the new submarine blockade may be only the forerunner of something else equally startling. Neither is there any assurance that it will be confined to changes on the seas.

The air of confidence, which was openly expressed at the German embassy was of general interest as an indication that the Berlin government was very sure of the success of its plan.

The new crisis, however, brings new dangers to the very shores of the United States where a score or more of German and Austrian ships have been laid up since the beginning of the war and where several German commerce raiders are interned.

Reports of German ships being armed for a dash to sea, a plot to sink them at their wharves, have been under investigation for many months.

This was diplomacy day at the state department, a set occasion for receiving representatives of foreign governments. Secretary Lansing, however, cancelled it.

Diplomats who act for Secretary Lansing were told he was very busily engaged preparing something for President Wilson.

After conferring with President Wilson for half an hour, Secretary
Text
of German Note

(By Associated Press.)

Washington, Feb. 1.--Following is the official text of the German note addressed to Secretary Lansing and signed by Count Bernstorff.

Mr. Secretary of State:

Your excellency was good enough to transmit to the imperial government a copy of the message with the president's address to the senate on the 22nd of last month. The imperial government has given it the earnest consideration which the president's statements deserve, inspired as they are by a deep sentiment of responsibility. It is highly gratifying to the imperial government to ascertain that the main tendencies of this important statement correspond largely to the desires and principles professed by Germany.

These principles especially include self-government and equality of