Perth Amboy evening news., 1915-05-12
COURSE OF PRESIDENT WILSON
On EUROPE WAR WAR D||FTFR||NgI||N|||F|D|. III FR||NgI||N|||F \.
FIRM NOTE To GERMANY READY
VIII Make Announcement as
Soon as ii is Proper Is Word
from Washington Today.
Special BY United Press WIRE.

Special By United Press Wire.
Washington, May 12:-Concern-
ing the European war situation the
Following announcement was issued
from the White House today:
The course of the President has
been determined. 1t will be an
nounced just as soon as it is proper
to publish the note now In prepara-
ton"
Secretary Tumulty gave out the
announcement Immediately follow
ing conference with the President.
1t is understood the note will be
transmitted to Berlin tonight or
Thursday. Secretary Tumulty re-
fused all comments. The note was
said to be a firm one and of sort
that would fully meet the country's
expectations.
Washington believed today that at
least it had very accurate idea of
President Wilson's plan relative to
the European war situation. He
| would call on Germany, it was deem
ed certain. for more accurate def
milton of its policy toward American
shipping, cargoes and lives in the
zone of hostility; he would point out
| that in all three respects the United
States has lost heavily and so far as
evidence indicated through German
operations; he would refer in connec-
| tion with this latter assertion to the
Falaba, Cushing and Gulf1ight incl
dents and especially to the Lusitania
case, and finally would ask that as
surances be given against such hap
penings in the future.
There was good authority for the
statement that no alternative would
be mentioned in event of German re-
fusal to comply with these requests
that there would be nothing in the
threat or an ultimatum. The com
munication would be largely in the
nature of a remonstrance against
German methods Of conducting sub
marine warfare in waters surround
| ing the British Isle. It would not
accept German assertion that such
methods were justified by the allies
policy and It wonld refuse to endorse
Germany's view that the warnings
given by the German government
through it's embassy here and other
wise, excused the damage done to
American property interests or de-
struction of American lives.
The German note which reached
Washington yesterday was generally
taken as foreshadowing a policy Of
conciliation Persons who believe
this to be the case hardly thought
that the Kaiser had any intention of
abandoning his submarine campaign,
answer from Berlin to what the ad-
ministration had to say.
This is general outline Of the pol
icy:
| The president will wait short time
before making any definite disclosure
OF the steps TO be taken. At the con
clusion of this period note viii be
sent to Germany carefully phrased so
as to express the adherence of the
| United States at the sinking of the
Lusitnaia and the resentment of this
government at the attacks on the Gulf
| light and the Cushing At the same
time every effort will be made con-
sistent with frmness to avoid state
ments which might be construed by
Germany as justification for a declara-
ton of war
In this note President Wilson it is
understood. win ask for reparation in
the Lusitania and other cases involv-
ing the destruction of American life
and property and will call upon the
German government for assurances in
the future as to the protection of the
lives of Americans upon the high seas
A formal disavowal of any intention
on the part of the German government
to destroy American lives and prop
erty probably also will be sought.
Will Avoid Open Break
If there is any serious rupture with
Germany as the result Of these repre-
sentations that government and not
the United States viii be responsible
The plan of the administration in this
note is to avoid any open break with
Germany and to lay the entire onus
Of any warlike move upon the kaiser's
government If there is war between
the United States and Germany 1t will
be Of Germany's making The situa-
ton that results from the note to be
sent by the United States viii be just
as serious as Germany herself may
desire TO make It.
By delaying the note to Germany
for short time President Wilson
hopes that the horror which the cOun-
try now feels at Germany's acts viii
have cooled in measure SO as to per
NIT of the consideration by the people
of the country of the legal points that
have been presented as partial iustin-
cation for the German policy. x is
Continued on page %