The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-06-11
new LUSITANIA NOTE
HAS GONE FORWARD
ONLY WARLIKE ACT WILL PRO-
WOKE WAR.
Message Still Leaves Door Open
for Easy Acquiescence by Ger
many.


States today sent to Germany note
reiterating its demand for repara-
ton for tie loss of American lives
| in the sinking of the Lusitania and
setting forth clearly the earnest desire
Of the American government that Ger
many signify her early adherence to
| the principles of international law
that neutrals be permitted to travel on
unarmed ships without being subject
to dangers of submarine warfare.
Couched in much more friendly
terms than it was believed would
be used when tde unsatisfactory an
swer to the American note of May
13 arrived from Germany, the COM
munication was cabled to Ambassador
Gerard for presentation to the Ger
man foreign Office. 1t will be given
out tomorrow night for publication in
the morning papers of Friday.
AS the all-important document on
which President Wilson and his ad-
visers have worked for ten days went
forward, it had behind it the united
support of the cabinet.
One Opponent Out.
Tie one man who had opposed its
terms because he believes it might
precipitate war-William Jennings
Bryan-had resigned the portfolio of
! secretary of state at the moment the
note was dispatched. A statement IS
sued by Mr.. Bryan revealed that Pres
ident Wilson had rejected his sug-
I gestions for an investigation by a
commission for a years time of the
legal phases of the dispute with Ger
many during which Americans should,
according to MIR. Bryan's view, be
warned against taking passage on any
belligerent ships or on American YES
sells carrying ammunition.
President Wilson made no comment
on the statement, but the text of the
note, it was stated, would outline fully
the position of the president and the
cabinet.
The president stands unalterably, it
! was stated, on the principle that the
United States at this stage in it's his
tory can not afford to surrender any
of it's rights, t3at the American peo-
pie had fought in 1912 for their rights
On the high seas, and could not sac
rifce those rights with the nations
rise and growth to a position of COM
mand as world power.
Surrender of Rights.
High officials generally held Uae
view that Mr.. Bryan's plan would
constitute a virtual surrender OF
American rights guaranteed not only
by international law but by specific
treaties between the United States and
Germany. Mr.. Bryan's suggestion that
Americans do not take passage on
American ships carrying ammunition
was in direct conflict, it was pointed
out, with the treaty of 1928 between
Prussia and the United States, where
in either party in time Of war is given
the right of free access to belliger-
ent ports for commerce in arms and
ammunition and other contraband.
Moreover, the right of an American
citizen to sail on an unarmed and I'M
resisting merchant ship of any ma
tionality in time of war is neld by the
president and his advisers to be an
inalienable privilege, founded on the
international Jaws of centuries
The presidents view is understood
to be that a new weapon of ofense
in warfare can be introduced only if
it is made to conform With the gen
orally established rules of interna-
tional law existing. The conditions
of war may change, he has said, but
not tie rules Of war, unless there is
general agreement among the ma
ticns which contribute to the making
Of international law.
Must Have Guarantee First.
Mr.. Wilson. it became known, is not
opposed to the idea of an investiga-
j ton or diplomatic discussion Of
case in dispute about Germany and
United States. but feels that before