The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-07-13


IL ,s doubtful IL the Presidents ad-
AiSers here will recommend that IN
4he coming note he commit himself
ID any definite course of action. II
: y fell rather that the President
should simply refterate efnphaticaly
the adherence of this government -
J 10 original position, together with
INA s,ateuer,t that the future course
~ enc United states will have to de-
r,ena on the degree to which Amer1-
ran rights are respected in German
Z practices. -, ,he
Presiden, will write just one more re
4oin6er to Germany's second replE' ana
,hn, he will saw TO the German gov
e .a-osn, IN m. polifest sort of way that
having failed TO comprehend the sen
,trren+ Of this country II would re
-srAssary for the United states TO take
.ha stems II hAd indicated previously
a. the nrst repetition or snbnar VI :
horror involving American hVes ana
break off ali relations with Germa nv
:, the same time takfnE steps TO give
ali the protection poss bic 10 American
lives and commerce in the future
One Course Open.
Ncurhere today could anybody see
any other course for the President 10
rursue The German reply, according
20 the viewpoint today LEFT Httie open
for further negotiation. should the
y president. IN excessive patience ana IN
forgetfuiness Of the firm notihoattohs
heretofore 20 Germany answer an a
manner to invite further opportunity
r for a settlement. he would Invite severe
crt,icixm from many quarters through
aut the country and endanEer the So
1idi,v NJ support he has had from the
neonle Of the country, II WAS pre-
dicted
On the contrary. should he, win
faj,,, dettberatfon and without haste,
notify Germany that IT would be inpos-
sihie 70 continue correspondence gu
4 the subject IN the face OF the 8erman
ATTITUDE and that the United states
wouid await future events with a
steady purpose TO maintain her rights
nj all hazards. sentiment would be AS
sorialv hack Of him as in the past II
was said
@e Decisive Action Necessary.
- On nearly all sides II was declared
that the time has come for decisive
action on the part of the Lnlteu
states, not necessarily OF war. nut o.
careful preparation to meet Germany
future disregard OF the rights the
president has claimed to uphold as q
trustee of the nation.
Unless Germany realizes that th'
President absolutely means business
and that the people are with him M
attempts will have been in vain ant
HIS own dignity will have been beht
tied, in the opinion of officials today
The general comment In executive
quarters today was that the mex
American note would definite the posi-
ton of the United States even NOR
clearly SO that Germany's snoseqnen
attitude would definitely determine
st%tn TnlufinnG Il
be, continued
Secretary Lansing Drafting Note.
Work was begun today by Secretar'
Lansing on the draft OF n note to Ger
many WHOA will be submitted to tn
Prsstcxnt when they confer on tn
subject.
No intimation IL ohtainable as I
the course which the American gov
eminent will follow. but there is ever
l indication In official quarters that IN
relations between Germany and tn
United States have become 80 stralne
as to make IL necessary to weigh care
fully the phraseology OF the next com
munication and to measure fully IN
responsibility and consequences whicl
may be required by its contents.
That there ia to he no surrender q
American rights in the new note
practically certain. according TO tn
view taken by officials thus far and
In also assured that the German pro
- posais for the immunity of America
passenger ships not carrying contra
band will be rejected
.~Nse Just what steps will be taken b
the United States as result of Ger
rtans'E fl iisz-Fz=F4IF ne sinktn
OF the Lusitania Is most uncertain.
is this issue--tsae loss of about i
American lives for which German
has diseIaimed responsfbiiify-tha
has brought the situation TO grav
and critical point.
To Ask L. =, Attitude.
Count won Bernstorff, the Germa
ambassador. has asked Secretary Ian
sing IL he wishes TO see him and III
Secretary is understood TO have re
piled that he does. after he has. care
fully examined the situation. The am
bAssador In seeking Information on tn
attitude OF the American government
toward the German reply. After NJ
Lansing has consulted President VIII
son II is not unlikely that some in
timasinn win be given 20 the Germa
ambassador on the seriousness wit
which the United States government
regards the crisis
So far as Is known the German am
hassador will make hts call withou
specIfc instructions from his govern
ruent. merely following the custom c
diplomats when notes have been eS
changed. To learn the attitude OF tn
recipient government and what ma
be expected as 10 the next step In tn
correspondence That there are to b
no informal negotiations. however, o
the subject has been made plain an
the ambassador's call very probahi
will partake more of the nature of
call for information rather than dis
cussion.
The ambassador Is understood TO b
in thorough accord with his govern
ment on the reply, which he regard
as satisfactory and as lending itsel
10 further negotiations. He does M
believe a break between Germany an
the United States Is now possible an
fs satisfied that the suggestions car
rled by Or Meyer Gerhard TO urge TIA
German foreign office to adopt n friend
Nv tone In ,ts reply were followed, Wit
the United States an active champto
IN for the cause OF neutral rights. Ger
Z man officials here say they forsee a
AMIGA Bile understanding eventually o
the question Of the freedom Of tn
seaf.
Chief Obstacle TO Status Quo,
IN The chief obstacle, Il appears how
ever. to permitting virtually d statu