WILSON ACTS.

Grey River Argus, 3 February 1917, Page 5

WILSON ACTS.

BERNSTOBFF GIVEN PASSPORT. (Australian and N.fc. Gable Assn.) (Press Extraordinary.) OTTAWA, February 1. It is learned from an excellent official source that President Wilson has delivered his passPort ,to Count Bernstorff. The above message which was received yesterday lacks confirmation. As will be sen by the cable messages published this morning the position is • extremely delicate, and there appears every probability that America is prepared to fight if Germany refuses to back down. SITUATION EXTREMELY GRAVE PROMPT ACTION EXPECTED WASHINGTON. February 1. The preliminary., reading, of the German Note by officials was followed by expressions tb^at gave the impression that the resulting situation was viewed with the most' extreme gravity. Prompt action is expected. TRYING TO AVOID WAR. ULTIMATUM WILL PROBABLY . BE SENT. WILL GERMANY BACK DOWN? (Rec. February 2, 5.5 p.m.} NEW YORK, February 1. From the mass of reports and rumours, emerges the fact that President Wilson has had repeated conferences with Mr. Lansing (Secretary of State). Both declined to make a statement. It is believed that the course of action has been decided upon % and will possibly take the form of a Note tantamount to an ultimatum to Germany. Tlie "Evening Post's" Washington correspondent says that President Wilson has decided that Germany's unrestricted submarining will not go into effect, if the moral, and possibly the physical, power of the United States can prevent it, but the President is striving hard to prevent America 's participation in the war. The newspapers of the Middle West and South and in New England support the defiant attitude of the New York press, as never before. Some demand that passports be given to Count Bernstorff and others. A breach is inevitable unless Gor : many- backs down. The Government has interned the liners Hoboken and seventeen others, including the Vaterland, . WILD EXCITEMENT AMERICAN STOCK EXCHANGE COTTON SHARES DEMORALISED NEW YORK. February 1. There is great excitement in the stock market and the wildest scenes since the beginning of the war. Cotton is demoralised and March contracts have dropped 25 dollars per bale and subsequently broke 500 points, the greatest break in the history of the States. Steel sold below par an rail way and steamship stocks suffered severely, but rallied two x to ten points to the customers. Prominent German Chicago brokerage customers have been selling short for the past ten days, and it is apparent that in tne certainty of something happening they made tremendous profits. (Rec. February 2. 8.45 P.m.) Stocks in Wall Street have dropped five to ten points. The day's turnover, of 2,000 000 shares is regarded as the worst day since the war began. WHAT THE PAPERS THINK IN FAVOUR OF VIGOROUS ACTION CAN ONLY BE ONE ANSWER ' NEW YORK HARBOUR CLOSED NEW YORK. February 1. The newspapers opinions throughout the country, except Progressive organs, are mostly in favour of an immediate vigorous reply. Many advocate breaking off relations and some declare that it is a direct challenge which should be accepted within _ twenty -four hours. ■ . , One paper says: The Arkansas troops are at President Wilson s disP °The "New York World" says: The Note is in_effect a declaration of war against the United States and can only have one answer and that should be made to-day. ■'.'♦-. Count Bernstorff must receive his ■passports forthwith and diplomatic relations must cease immediately. If this means actual war with Germany so be it. Colonel House, President Wilson's confidential, adviser, is hurrying ,to <

GERMANY'S NOTE. ORDERS' CONCERNING SHIPPING WHAT ENEMY WOULD PERMIT. (Australian and N.Z, Cable Assn) NEW YORK, February 1. The text of the German Note states, . inter alia, that Germany and her allies j were ready to enter into peace negotia- . tions and had indicated a guarantee of existence, honour and liberty as a basis of their plans. ! As stated on December 28th, they did not aim at the destruction and an' nihilation of an adversary. The. annexation of Belgium had never been Germany's intention. Germany merely wanted to take precautionary measures in order that Belgium could not be ex- ■ ploitcd by Germany's adversaries for the promotion of hostile attempts. I Such precaution was urgently needed. The enemy, espeeialty at the Paris Conference, declared their unveiled intention, even after restoring peace, to continue a systematic trade fight. The attempt of the Central Powers towards peace failed because of their adversaries' lust of conquest. Their war aims ■ were designed- to dishonour Germany, • Turkey, Austria and Bulgaria. Our adversaries wanted to fight, to the last. ; Thus there was a new situation which forced Germany to a. new decision. I For two and a-half years England has misused politics, and then her Navy in an - attempt to force the Central Powers into subjection. England prohibited our legitimate trade. The neuIrsil i>t.!»tcs in America know the means taken in order to induce England to observe the laws of nations in respect of the freedom of the ocean, but the ■English Government persists in a war of starvation which does not touch our : military strength^ but forces women, children, sick' and aged to suffer painful privations which are endangering our . national vitality. Referring to the barred shipping zone, it states that neutrals now in port in the barred zones- can with safety abandon the zones if they sail before February sth taking the shortest route to open districts. The traffic of regular American ships can continue unmolested if Falmouth is the port of destination and they keep to the "reserved safety lines and carry prominent distinctive marks and flags, which must be illuminated at night, also, if one steamer each week runs in each direction, arriving at Falmouth on Sundays and leaving on Wednesdays, and if guarantees are given by the American Government that these steamers do not carry * contraband according to Germany's list of contraband. SPEECH BY HOLLWEG FIRM BASIS FOR SUCCESS UNRESTRICTED SUBMARINING AMSTERDAM. February 1. Dr von Bethmann Hollweg speakiner in the Reichstag:, declared that the most important fact was that the number of Germany's submarines had very considerably increased, compared with the past spring-. Thereby a firih basis was created for success. A second decisive reason was the bad corn harvest of the world, which had already caused Britain, France and Italy serious difficulties, and .which Germany firmly hoped would be made unbearable by unrestricted submarining". . " • He declared that the coal question ; was already critical in France and Italy, and German submarines would render it still more critical. Moreover, as regards England it was a question of the supply of ore for munitions and timber for the coal mines. The Entente's difficulties were rendered more acute by the decreased carjro space. In this respect submanning- and cruiser warfare had prepared the ground for a decisive blow. He asserted that the advantages of Germany therefrom had correspondingly decreased since last spring. General von Hindenburg- a fsv. days ago had described the situation as follows :— Our front is firm on all sides. We have everywhere the requisite reserves. The spirit of our troops is good. lam confident that the military situation as a whole permits us to accept all the consequences °\ unrestricted submarining ,and as this, in all circumstances, is- the . means to injure ' our enemies most grievously it' must begin. BERNSTORFF'S COMMENT. SUSSEX PLEDGE TO BE REVOKED. ENDEAVOUR TO STARVE ENGLAND. WASHINGTON. February j. Jhe informal comment of the German Embassy indicated that Germar.\ intends to revoke her Sussex 2iledg3s and endeavour to starve Eng-Lind. the barred" zone, atlantic safety track. NEW YORK. February 1. me area of the barred zone outlined in the Note includes the Atlantic to a point 400 miles west of Ireland, extending from a point 300 miles west of CajDe Finisterre to 200 miles west of the Faroe Islands, all the wes!f n * 1 2 or 1 * ion of the North Sea and all Jthe Mediterranean, - \