The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-12
TODEMAND THAT GERMANY ABIDE BY ESTABLISHED RULES .OF MARITIME WAR
First Step in Policy Which
 America Will Follow Re- garding Lusitania Disas-
 ter Made Public !
ASK GUARANTEE THAT AMERICANS BE GIVEN FUTURE PROTECTION

T U U NE hO LO HUN President and Cabinet at
 Conference Agree Upon
 Draft Embodying Ameri-
 ca's Views on Situation
 Washington May 11.-President Wilson had virtually decided tonight on the first step in the policy which the United States government will pursue as result of the sinking of the British liner Lusitania with the loss of more than 100 American lives.
 The President will act prompty-withfn day or two draft of a commnnica- ton to be sent to Germany was submitted to the cabinet today and approved unan-
 imously. While no official announcement
 was made, 1t was learned that the United States would present and insist upon an l explanation of the series of Incidents which have occurred since the proclan1a- ton of a war zone around the British
 Isles. the sinking of the Falaha. causing
 the death of Leon C. Thresher. an Amer
 ean citizen, the attack by. German air
 men on the American steamer Cushing,
 the torpedoing of the American steamer
 Guflight and finally the destruction with out warning of the lusitania. With total : loss Of more than thousand llvea ] Voices Intense Feeling ! In what are described hy those familiar with the doeument. &s firm and unsnls-s
 talSable terms, the President voices the Intense feeling of tine United States over
 these happenings. and in the name of in- ternational law demands an adherence
 by Germany to the established rules of
 maritime warfare. The note asks that
 some assurance or guarantee be given
 hereafter that unarmed merchant vessels
 carrying noncombatants be visited and searched when encountered on the high
 seas by the German navy and passen-
 gers and crew transferred to a place of safety before any prize is destroyed. The President points out. it Is under- stood, that the United States, in it's note
 which said Germany would be held to strict accountability for any attacks on 3 American vessels or lives had not admit 2 ted any right on the part of Germany
 to carry on such methods of warfare, and declares, moreover, that the giving of of- 3 icial notice of an intention to commit
 an unjustihahe act did not justify the act or make 1t lawful.
 , Will Act Firmly
 What will follow in the event of re-
 fusal by Germany to comply with the expressed wishes of the note, about to
 be sent. no one of the Presidents offi- , cial family would predict. They said r the President was determined to act firm ly and deal with each situation as 1t
 arose. 1t was pointed out. too, that in
 his speech at Philadelphia, in reference | to peace, MT. Wilson was expressing mere | ly an ideal that he wished America could
 and would follow.
 Persons familiar with the Presidents \ point of view indicated, however, that he was by no means unprepared for or unaware of the possible eventualities of the present crisis and knew that circunl-
 stances and events over which the United States might have no control might make
 | vigorous action necessary
 The circular from the German govern d ment to neutral countries. assuming re- e sponsibilty and promising reparation for Q any damage in the war zone to neutral
 vessels will not affect the determined " course of the President It was consid- 5 cred by the cabinet today there is no {" guarantee in it that the lives of Ameri-
 cans will be safesuarded. as submarines Y cannot accommodate passengers or crew T of the vessels they attack. II What the President conclus ions were ! Is known only to himself. Within an- ', other day or two. certainly before tho U end of the week. an announcement of
 tho first step in the policy is expected. he fTf1r. inn i ceutive quarters after the cabinet Il meeting that while the President had
 not definitely determined on the exact
 course he would follow, he had prac- S tically decided to ask Germany to fur ~ ish some assurance or guarantee that = there would be no repetition of .h3 ' !.usitania tragedy. which would mean s that unarmed merchant vessels with '- neutral passengers aboard would at ' least be visited by searchers anu non- s oombatants removed to a plact of safe 'r ty. before the ships destruction as a l. prize.
 n Whether the request for a guarantee " for the future would be accompanied s hy demand for full reparation to the le families of the American victims or r whether action on the Lusltania case T. itself would be postponed until Ger h lnany's attitude toward the first re- v nuest was disclosed are steps which the III President is understood not yet to have 7. settled in his own mind.
 I4 Take Vigorous Attitude D. It is recognized that refusal by ie 1 Germany to meet such request would
 l1resent serious situation, but there
 ls no disposition among the Presidents -s advisers to let this deter them from ! the enunciation of vigorous atu- tude
 A canvass of officials well informed on the Situation developed the fact that they were convinced that the President would follow course which would be consist- 2 ent with the dignity of the United Staten and leave him free to adopt, if necessary. d more emphatic line of action as the at titude of Germany was revealed.
 ft developed during the day that serl- ' ors consideration had been gwen to the : status of Dr.. Bernhard pcfbefgs former ~ (Continued on Page Twelvel