The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1915-06-04
GERMAN REPLY
NOT SATISFACTORY
Disregards ClaimsSet Up by
Washington Government.
Prompt Answer Will Be Demand.
ed in Second Note To Be
Sent At Once.

Washington, June 1.-Presiden
JXilson determined to day the United
States must ascertain definitely, ant
Z very promptly from German,
whether the imperial government
intends in future to be guided by tn,
accepted principles of international
law and rights OF neutrals or follow
its own rules of marine warfare.
The president listened to varied
expressions of opinion at a meeting
of the cabinet, taking little part In
the discussion himself. Later he
began the preparation of a note ia
be dispatched before the end OF the
week. embobdying his own ideas and
what seemed to him to be the con.
sensus Of his Official family
Reply Is UnrespOnsive.
The verdict of majority of the
cabinet was the German reply was
unresponsive. unsatisfactory. disre-
garded the good will OF the United
States. doubted its faith. and dis
claimed all blame for the destruc-
ton OF merchantmen with American
lives.
The questions of fact raised by
Germany was regarded as irrelevant
at this time.
The trend Of opinion was the
United States must inquire and OBJ
tain sE early answer as to whether
Germany intends to recognize the
hitherto accepted principle that neu-
trails may travel anywhere on the
high seas on unarmed merchant
ships, whether or not such vessels
carry contraband. and that merch-
aptmen which do not resist capture
must be visited, and searched. and
passengers transferred to a place of
safety before the vessel is destroy
ed.
Cut on Diplomatic Relations.
An unfavorable answer to this in
quiry would lead. 1t was predicted
in official Quarters,to a severance of
diplomatic relations on the ground
that the United States could not
continue in intercourse with a gov
eminent which repudiated these
principles.
A decision to base the American
note on the principles Of interna-
tional law to obtain an Affirmative
or negative reply. and not enter in
to q technical discussion of details
raised by the German ,communica-
ton. was the single development Of
the cabinet council.
Count Won Bernstorff. the German
ambassador, will call upon Presi-
dent Wilson Tomorrow.
Brief Note.
The prevailing belief after the
car0net meeting was that q note.
probably very brief. would be dis
patched to Germany, asking whether
the imperial government intends by
its answer to disregard fundamental
principles of international law.
II Germany's answer indicates an
unwillingness to recognize what
have hitherto been regarded uni
versally as accepted principles of in
ternational laws. based on customs
and laws of humanity. the United
States probably will sever diplo-
matte relations with Germany. That
would not necessarily be followed
by any other step unless American
rights were fiagrantly violated. That
view found expression in quarters
close to the White House and was
looked upon as the most plausible
trend Of the American governments
policy.
BernstOn's Call.
When Count Bernstein. the Ger
man ambassador. sees President Will
son tomorrow. unless he brings
some new proposal different from
the reply signed by Herr Won Jagow,
the German foreign minister. 1t was
believed today in well-informed
Qu( rters that his visit will not affect
the character of the new American
note. although the presidents per-
sonal views. 1t was thought. would
be impressed upon thea AMBASSADOR
ann might have some influence In