The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1915-06-01
Refuses to Make
Any Comment on the
Situation Until After
the Cabinet Meeting

Washington, June 1.-The president and his
cabinet of ten advisers will decide today upon the
course which the United States government will
pursue in one of the gravest international situa-
tions that ever confronted it. Three weeks ago
today the president and his cabinet after two hours
of deliberation decided to send to Germany a note
demanding full reparatiOn for the loss of Ameri-
can lives when the Lustania was torpedoed with
out warning and asking for guarantees that Aneri-
can rights on the high seas would not again be vio-
lated. Germany s unyielding answer is considered
by officials evading the main points at issue, and
before today S meeting decision to send a second
note, brief and emphatic setting forth the Ameri-
can governments position on disputed points
raised by Germany's reply is generally predicted
in executive quarters. What would result in the
event of noncompliance by Germany and whe-
ther the United States would In its communication,
- Indicate its course or name a time limit within
which reply was to be expected are matters Of
general speculation. That the note will not be sent
before Thursday is the prevalent belief, because
Count Won Bemstorff, the German ambassador,
has been granted an interview with the president
for tomorrow. -. ...
The president said he would decide definitely
after a conference with his cabinet. While he did
not go into details about the statement, it is still
understood that it will warn the factions that there
must be improvement In the condition imme-
diately. The president praised Duval West, his
special agent who recently made detailed report
and spoke of his services as admirable. The main
part of Vests work is finished the president said
turn to Mexico. . a..a. 4 us..s
President Wilson told callers he did not feel it
wise for him to discuss Germany's reply to the
American note until after he had consulted his
cabinet and studied further the important questions
involved. The president said the American reion-
der, however, would not be many days delayed He
spoke of having studied the official text of the Ger
reply last night, and his intention is to have
preliminary discussion with his cabinet at todays
meeting.
Calm In his hearing and shoUino mono of tho
strain of the international problem before him. the
president received the Washington correspondents
as usual for their Tuesday interview. Questions
concerning domestic affairs had only touched the
edge OF his mind he phrased it, because of the
greater Importance of the international situation
The president revealed that he had not yet
drafted a reply to Germany, and that it probably
will be done after todays cabinet meeting. To
morrow, Count Won Bernstorff. the German am
bassador at his request, will see the president
In well informed quarters, however, it is said
that he is not in close touch with his government
because of the difficulty in communication. The
reply is then expected to go forward Thursday or
Friday.
Outward calm in executive quarters however.
is emphasized by the deep concentration and the
earnest attention which the president and his adj
vlsers are giving to the situation The president
it is understood has been much impressed with the
practically unanimous verdict of the American edi-
torlal opinion that the German answer was not
really an answer, but an evasion OF the greater is
sues OF law and humanity. His close advisers say
he regards this editorial opinion as true refec-
tion of the opinion of the country and will endeavor
by his action to express it.
While the president, himself. would give no
1ntlmatlon OF his course, many Of those familiar
with his previous attitude, thought the American
reioinder would be brief and would demand an
early reply. Failure to meet American representa-
tlons would, it is freely predicted result in sew
erance of diplomatic relations Pressure for that