New York, Feb, a1. Resentment exists in Government circles in Washington over the disgraceful publicity method a Teutonic diplomatists and it is m than hinted that unless these acti vities, which the American Government is beginning to find embarrassing, are discontinued it will probably be considered necessary to ask for the recall of several prominent diplomatiste.
Count Bernstorft is accused of turning the German Embassy into a Publicity Bureau and giving out misleading statements. As an instance, it is stated that there has been a flagrant breach of the pledges of secrecy on the subject of the Lusitania negotiations, reports being repeatedly sent out, thea being clearly officially inspired, deliberately misrepresenting the situation.
The American Government is particularly annoyed that information was given out, making it appear that a decision had been definitely reached by America to recognize belligerent merchantmen armed for defence as cruisers that could be attacked without warning. No such decision was reached. The truth was that Mr. Lansing, Secretary of State, made such a proposal to all the belligerents, but it could not be enforced unless all the nations concerned agreed to it.
(Continued on page 541.,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.