The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-06-03
QUICK REPLY TO
berlin IS LIKELY
WASHINGTON PROFOUNDLY DIS
APPOINTED WITH GERMANY's
REPLY TO NOTE.
U. S. COURSE UNDETERMINED
Wilson is Determined to Obtain
PREPARATION for Lusitania Victims
and Assurances of Respect
for American Rights.

Washington, June 1.-German's re.
ply to the American note concerning
the sinking of the Lusitania with a
loss of more than 100 American lives,
produced a feeling of profound disap-
pointment here.
Dissatisfaction at the failure of Ger
many to answer the demands of the
United States was reflected in gov
eminent circles generally.
President Wilson had retired early
before the text arrived-but from a
reading of the summary published and
Ambassador Gerard's forecasts he had
an accurate impression OF what it con
tanned.
Secretary Bryan would make no
comment. Other cabinet officers we're
%reticent, but there was little conceal
ment anywhere that the answer from
Berlin had produced a grave situation
in the relations between the United
States and Germany.
Course of U. S. Undetermined.
Just what course of action the
United States will pursue is unde-
termined.
Press dispatches giving the text OF
the reply came during the evening and
were sent to the White House. The
official text from Ambassador Gerard
arrived just before midnight and was
placed before the President. There
will be a cabinet meeting shortly.
From a previous knowledge IF Pres
ident Wilson's position, it was gen
orally predicted a prompt answer
would be sent to Berlin, perhaps with
in "a OF As hours. This is expected
to give the American governments
~derstanding Of the facts-that the Lu-
sitania was unarmed and carried no
concealed guns, that she sailed from
the United States a peaceful merchant
man, and that, under all rules of in
ternational law and humanity, the YES
sci should have been visited and
searched and her passengers trans
ferred to a place of safety, whether
she carried ammunition or not. Amer
lean law does not prohibit ammunition
being carried on a passenger ship, il
will be asserted, hut only s~elf-eXplod-
ing material, and liners in the past
have been permitted to carry arms
and ammunition by special railing of
the state department on the meaning
on federal statutes.
T~orpsdoing of Nebraskan.
Gernany's failure even to discuss
offers of r~eparation for u~nintentional
A m aripnn nntn onH nuocsnr nf tho 40
quest that guarantees be given that
American vessels and lives be not en-
dangered in the future are the main
points, however, which the United
States government, it was generally
believed, would advert in the second
note. The expressions of regret and
offers of r%eparaticn for uninternational
attacks oil neutral ships are expected
to have little weight in determining
the nature of the response of the
United States. When the note on
May l3 was sent it was pointed out
that such promises did not remove the
risks to which American vessels and
lives are subjected; and to support
this contention, the United States will
add, it is said, hat the American
steamer Nebraskan was torpedoed
without warning within the last few
days.
Wilson is Determined.
While 1t is generally thought the
United States viii answer Germany's
request for facts with a restatement
of the circumstances as recited in the
American note of May 13, the prompt
ness with which the reply will be dis
patched is counted upon to serve as
an indication that the American gov
eminent wishes an early answer and
does not desire to engage in a pro-
tracted diplomatic discussion.
Persons close to President Wilson
have learned that he is determined to
obtain reparation for the Lusitania
victims and assurances of respect for
American rights in future and this
failing, he would not hesitate to
sever diplomatic relations with Ger
many.
In German quarters here it was
again reasserted that the Lusitania
was armed.
TO controvert this, the United States
has proof, gathered before the Ameri-
can note was sent, that there were
no guns aboard.
Furthermore, the British govern
rnent entered into an informal agree
ment with the IInitad Stotou aorJy