The Spectator., 1915-05-11
SINKING OF LINER
 MAY INVOLVE J. 5.
IT IS THOUGHT GERMANY WANTS AMERICA TO HOLD MUM.
 TiCNS OF WAR.
SEEK SOME INTERPRETATION
President Says He Wants to Be Ger. tain Whether German Government
 Will Continue Friendly.

ngton.-What action the Unit cd States will take as result of the sinking of the Lusitania, with the loss of more than a hundred American ives, is undecided
 Only the presidents most intimate advisers know of the complexities of the problem before him. It not only concerns the attack on the Lusitania, 1ut series of incidents indicating a period of strained relations with iermany for many weeks
 The president has watched with hi, disapproval, it is known, the con- plaints of the German officials with regard to questions of neutrality and the efforts to array GerHan-Ameri- can son1iment against the Washing ton administration as means O. Efging an embargo on munitions of war agcinst the allies.
 At first the German govern ad- lhiited that there was no ,iolatiOon of international law in the sale by private individuals of munitions of war. When the German ambassador In memorandum practically accused the United States government of not being neutral in the question of per hitting shipments of munitions, the president was amazed.
 The sinking of the American steam which caused the drowning Of an American citizen, Leon C. Thrasher, the Wrecking without warning os the American tank ship Gul1ight, the dropping of bombs on the American steamer Cushing and finally the torpe- doing of the Lusitania, constitute a series of incidents which the prcsi- dent is trying to interpret.
 He wants to be certain whethe! they range themselves in order to cause a grave climax of a carefully planed policy of histolity to the United States or whether the sequence is cas- nal and the German government de sires to continue friendly relations with the Washington government.
 + the German government, as many diplomists and officials fear is anx- ious to draw the United States into the European conflict in the hope that defense at home will reduce the sup ply of arms to the allies, some officials believe the situation must be consider ed in the light of other possibilities and incidents in the future which might be calculated to agGravate pub. lie feeling in the United States.
 Neutral governments are watching anXiously the course of the United States, They have frequently intimat- ed to the American government their willingness to join in any movement which might effectively protect the riests of neutrals They have promis- ed their moral support and while the United States has been tra1itionally opposed to joint action of any kind some observers think a contingency may arise as the international situa. tion develops which may make neccs. sary conversations with the neutral countries on a common policy to safe guard the rights of neutrals
 President Wilson has been studying every aspect-legal and humanitarian of the CGse. That he feels deep dis tess and realizes the people of the United States expect him to express in proy ounced fashion their indi~ra- ton was indicated by the statement issued from the White House 1t said that the president is "corsiderirg earnestly but calmly the proper course of action 10 pursue" and that "he Srows tle people of the country wi~h aau expect him to act with Celibera- tion es well as with iirmness"
 Until all inc official reports are re- ceireG rom Ambassadors Gerard and Page at l}er.in and London. respective. ly, il is not expected that any action will be taken.