Evening star., 1915-06-03
PRESIDENT WORKS
ON NEW j. S. NOTE
No Change in Attitude With
Respect to Submarine
Warfare.
NO GUNS ON LUSITANIA
TO BE Definite STAND
Despite Afidavits, Government
Deems It Has Proof Which
Is Absolute.

Is Absolute
| President Wilson worked most OF today
on the new note to Germany, which Ia 20
be dispatched this week
| The situation had developed to q point
where, although the visit of Count Won
Bernstorff, the German ambassador. to
the President yesterday was believed
likely to enlighten the Berlin foreign Of
nee On the attitude of the United States
the American government is unsweryed
from its intention to determine proppt,v
whether German submarine commanders
\ VIII hereafter respect the principles of
| international law.
Points Raised Irrelevant.
| The facts upon which the German roy-
| ernment asked agreement it is now prz.c-
! tlcaliy certain. will be treated by the note
| as irrelevant with one exception 1t is
understood that the note will restate that
| the Lusitania was on Il peaceful crrise
did not resist capture, and was unarmed
All the other points raised by GERMANY
are deemed irrelevant under the laws Of
nations
The purpose of the United States in
the new note viii be to discover
| on encountering vessels of any nation
| allty that are unarmed. transfer pas
sengers and crew to place of safety
should a vessel, carrying contraband
| be certain of condemnation in prize
| court, and therefore subject to destruc-
/ tion.
Question of Guns Closed.
1t was reiterated at the State De-
| partment today that while affdavits
| filed there by the German embassy.
contending that the Lusitania was
| armed. had been carefully considered
| the proof of the United States that the
| Lusitania was unarmed was beyond
question.
None of the signerS. in the opinion OF
| officials. could have made as searching
an investigation did customs in
| spectors. who were specifically order
| ed to examine decks of vessels and
| their holds for the one thing or the
| presence of guns.
Had there been explosives aboard or
| ficials say clearance would have been
refused. Before the Lusitania sailed
| all such facts were in possession OF
| the American government.
! Count Won Bernstorff, the German
! ambassador. conferred briefly with Sec
retary Bryan today, but would not dis
cuss the subject of his visit.
Administration Plan Unaltered.
Interest in the conference between
| the President and the German am
ba ssador, held yesterday at the White
/ House, was heightened today as further
| details We're coming to light
/ The conference was cordial and of
| friendly nature. The intensity of feel-
| ing in the United States over the LuSl.
tania incident and other VIOLATIONS OF
American rights on the high seas was
! empha sized by the President. he also
impressed upon the ambassador that
the United States would insist that
Germany adhere to the accepted prln-
ciples of international law as they az
feet neutrals.
| The President, it is believed. informed
| the ambassador that the United States
would not object to the German sub
marine warfare provided it could be
| conducted in such a way as not to
| ieopardize life and property of neu-
trails He is also said to have explained
| that the exercise of the right of visit
and search would he insisted upon
when submarines encounter unarmed
merchantmen or vessels when do not
resist capture.
Speculation continued today as to the
effect of the conference. 1t was be
ieyed by some officials and diplomats
that it would be beneficial and draw
from Germany conciliatory reply TO
the American note.
Embassy Optimistic.
A feeling Of hopefulness pervaded
the German embassy. where the con-
ference was regarded as satisfactory.
The ambassador himself expressed
the belief that the communication
which he had sent to his government
conveying the viewpoint of the rresi-
dent himself-would enlighten the Ger
man foreign office accurately to the
American governments viewpoint and
pave the way to a better understand
ing.
In official and diplomatic quarters
opinion was divided as to the effect OF
the conference. Some thought 1t
would be beneficial and bring from
Germany a conciiiatory reply to the
next American communication. Others
pointed out that the German ambas
sador similarly was hopeful when
President Wilson's note OF May Is was
dispatched, and that he recommended
several methods to the German foreign
office of meeting the American posi-
tion satisfactorily II is an open secret
in diplomatic quarters. however. that
the ambassadors suggestions We're not
followed then and speculation was
Nidesprcad " as to what influence his
communication Of last evening-eX-
pressing as it did the viewpoint of the
president himself-might have his
government.
To Aid Messages Forward.
In view of the difficulties which tho
embassy has experienced in communi-
eating with Berlin on account of the
cutting of cables. i'll is understood the
President granted a request OF the am
hass.dor that the United States assist
him in transmitting his messages con
corning the delicate situation that has
arisen. The ambassadors report of his
,.llx with the President was sent in
code through the State Department to
he delivered by Ambassador Gerard.
In some well Informed quarters the
conference was discussed likely to lead
70 important results with respect to the
general European situation While the
President it is believed, in adherence to
his expressed policy, would not talk OF
the relations of this country with Great
Britain to the German ambassador. the
possibility that a return to international
law by all the belligerents might eventu-
ally be accomplished by the efforts of tho
United States. and thus pave the way
for the eventual restoration of peace in
Europe. was a suggestion widely current
In German quarters optimism was ap-
parent The view was expressed that
the German reply did not purport to be a
full answer to the American demands.
and that if the United States in its next
note stated that official investigation
showed that the Lusitania carried no
guns it would not be surprising if this
would bs accepted by the German govern