The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-30
HEARS
Continued from First Page


eite 10 Indicate the adspinistration's
SrohahIe attitude toward II. The Pres
&ydent and his ajvikers were disap-
&beinted at the way in which Ger
many has met the demands OF the
limited States. or this there was no
41eubt.
what will be the Presidents reply,
or what course of action he will pur-
Xgue, cannot. OF course. even be pre-
4dirtea at this time II is certain, how
Never. enat upon receipt Of the text
- the note tomorrow, Mr. Wilson and
#his advisers will enter upon period
8esf anxious elaboration.
Meets no Vital Issue.
IN Germans reply fails absolutely to
meet any of the issues which this gov
rrnment regards as vital. II seeks
An definition OF terms" and deter
Elimination Of the facts as a preiirn-
&lnary TO discussing the Presidents de-
Mmands ana its chief purpose. as
Myiewed in Washington. is to draw the
Wl.nfted States into a parley which viii
III uave off crisis.
III All that Germany has to offer in
Mreply 10 President Wilson's demand
#for. immediate steps" 10 prevent
Mrecurrence of the LusitAnia outrage
Nis a citation of assumed facts as to
1.-THE character of the Lusitania AMI
II der cargo, and a request for deter
q mination of the accuracy of those
facts before proceeding further
III Practically the only specific con-
S&ressions that the United states OBJ
Mfains from Germany is an expression
%cf regret for injuries to Americans.
SFtatement that thea ttacks upon r1e
esAnrerican vessels Gulfiight and Cush-
ling were unintentional. and an offer
Ito compensate for attacks upon harm
less American vessels when G~rTany
sis In the wrong. and. reference ~
"a doubtful cases OF neutral vessels 10
The HaEue for arbitration.
III Expression Not New
The expression Of regrSt for the loss
n Of American life and these conces-
rions in regard TO neutral vessels are
rot even new, They had been com
municated to the State Department
@sin previous notes
M As to President Wilson demand for
"a disavowal OF the submarine attacks
8lhe German note is silent except in
szso far as the torpedoing Of The Gull
4 Night ana the dropping of bomb
d ON The Cushing are described as 'un-
81 Intentional"
81 The most striking feature OF the
German note is its request for a de-
Il Termination of the facts pending fur
d Their NEGOTIATIONS The full force ot
*this request vas not appreciated here
until tonight. when it was realized
y hat the German foreign ONCE has
made a move which is likely to en-
& barrass President Wilson In drafting
Il his future course.
81 Steals Bryan's Thunder
N Germany, In replying to the Ameri-
4 can note, has. in fact. stolen some or
8 Sscretary Bryan's only thunder.
IN determining an investigation of
y the facts Germany is asking for exact
Fly what Secretary Bryan has urged in
s-sil of the peace treaties which he has
Sregotiated with the countries of the
II world. Germany ~ one Of the few
governments that has not negotiated
such a treaty. But the German for
& sign office apparently l. seeking to
y put the administration In an atb-
Miude where II will seemingly repudiate
the principle for which it has stood,
ar IL denies action in this case
n 1t Ia not doubted that the Berlin
n foreign Office was advised by the en-"
II hassy here to appropriate Mr., Bryans
~ !dsa.
- There is NO doubt here that IL
Il he United States falls In Nith the
~ German proposal and enters upon
20 discussion Of the facts. Germany
d Will answer by saying that her under
standing of the facts IL different and
will then propose that the matter he
submitted 10 an international COM
mission of inquiry
This is precisely the procedure
which Mr. Bryan advocates as the
pansces for war. S,1ould this come
TO pass, OF course. the Germans would
re left unhampered to pursue their
subms rine operations as thgy saw
fit.
Bryan Said 10 BE Opposed TO Break.
II may he said that one eIemtn in
he Cabinet probably will be in favor
u entering on such a discussion 80
Germany seeks. and win use its in
6uence to bring this about. This ele-
rnent Ia believed to be led by Mr.
Bryan, who, it may now be said. IA
eored a much more moderate COM
rnunication- TO Germany than that
which finally went over his signature
Expressions of public opinion in this
~ matter will sfe1.-$cABeRCs- Mr.. BEvan IA
this regard. Those in position to
know assert that Mr. BRYAN is making
And Ii preparing to continue, a fight
10 prevent all possibility of break
with Germany. and that his Influence
Il may be regarded as powerful fac
tor In the situation. He is supported
by a minority of the Cabinet. one or
two members deeply sympathizing
with his views, who think II would
j be inexpedient TO risk a break with
Germany.
Should the American public appear
u TO acQuiesce in such procedure
there In a possibility that it would be
accepted by the administration. The
decision would not be reached without
q severe struggle, however. as there
are elements in the Cabinet certain to
oppose IL. These members feel that
when the President sent the note the
tdie was cast. and that all that remained
for the United States was TO have the
moral and physical courage TO live up
ITO IT. If that courage was lacking.
y they assert The administration should