Omaha daily bee., 1915-06-05
CABINET STAMPS
NOTE OF WILSON
WITH APPROVAL
Assistant Secretary of State Lansing
Attends Meeting at Which the
Final Draft is En-
dorsed.
STANDS BY LAW OF THE SEA
Germany Must Answer Question Rel
ative to Right to Imperil Lives
of Noncombatants.
COUNT SENDS AGENT TO BERLIN
BULLETIN.


WASHINGTON, June 4.--Presi-
dent Wilson's second note to Ger
many was approved in principle at
today's cabinet meeting and will be
forwarded to Berlin as soon as the
president has had opportunity 10
make certain changes in phraseology.
The note IL became known after the
meeting, will be vigorous in tone and
will deny allegations in the last Ger
man communication that the Lusi-
tania was armed and carrying ex-
plosives prohibited by American
law.
The note. a rough draft OF which had
been completed by the president before
the meeting was subjected TO careful
analysis by members of the cabinet and
afterwards IL was understood they agreed
generally on it's basic provisions. The
president went automobiling after the
conference, but expected to begin work
tonight in revising the language of tho
note.
Counsellor Lansing, as the president 8
tional law. sat in today's cabinet meet
ing. Previously he has attended only in
the absence of Secretary Bryan.
No Conclusion Reached.
Following the cabinet meeting the
members were unusually reticent. but
there were some indications that the
note had not finally been disposed of.
1--WE reached no final conclusion about
anything" said one
In answer to questions, Secretary
Bryan said:
81 cannot divulge anything that hap
pens in cabinet meetings"
The meeting lasted two hours.
Afterward most Of the members went
/ to luncheon with Counselor Lansing.
| Secretary Bryan returned 10 the State
department alone.
white House officials said today that
while the president had penned the note
| himself he had consulted with Secretary
Bryan ever the principles and details.
| He also had been in constant consulta-
tion with Counsellor Lansing and also
Attorney General Gregory. who investi-
gated affidavits that the Lusitania car
ried guns. The government 10 convinced
there is no ground for that contention and
the note will so inform Germany.
Bernstorff sends Special Report.
While the president and the cabinet
were discussing the note a German agent
was on his way to Berlin TO present q
first hand report of the interview which
Count Won Bernstorff. the German am
bassador had Wednesday with President
Wilson.
Officials at the German embassy re-
fused to discuss that development, but II
became known authoritatively that Meyer
Gerhard. who sailed from New York yes
terday Tor Copenhagen on the steamer
United States with a guarantee of safe
conduct obtained by the American gov
ernment from the allies. is the man He
lis an attache of the German colonial
office and has been in the United States
several months representing the German
Red Cross.
The dispatch OF the envoy was the
basis of much confidence in German
quarters here, where is was believed ar
understanding on submarine warfare
satisfactory to both Germany and the
United States could be evolved.
The days cabinet meeting began with
all members practically agreed that the
United States cannot consider the Ger
man reply responsive and must insist
before diplomatic correspondence car
proceed further. upon an affirmative ol
negative answer TO the principle tina
lives Of non-combatants cannot lawfully
be imperiled on the high seas. but mus
be transferred to safety before a legiti
mate prize is destroyed.
The purpose Of the United States is u
keep it's rejoinder on the same plane al
the note of May Il. Should a negativ,
CContinued on Page Two, Column Two,