The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-12
, TO SEND FIRM NOTE TO GERMANY on LUSITANA CAS-

Government for assurances in the future
as to the protection of the lives Of
Americans upon the high seas. A for
NAL disavowal of any intention on the
part of the German Government TO de
stroy American lives and property prob
ably also will be demanded
II there is any serious rupture with
German" cs tho result OF these re;,ru-
sensations that Government and not the
United States will be responsible The
plan Of the Administration In this note
is To avoid any open break with Ger.
many and to lay the entire onus of any
warlike move upon the Kaiser's Govern
ment. If there is war between the
United States and Germany, 1t will be
OF Germany's making. The situation that
results from the note to be sent by the
United States will be just as serious as
Germany herself may desire to make II.
BY delaying the note to Germany for
a short time. President Wilson hopes
that the horror which the country now
feels at Germany's acts will have cooled
In n measure. so as to permit OF the con-
sijeiation by ;he people of the country
of the legal points that have been pre-
sented as partial Justification for the
German policy. II is hoped. too. that
The public. on second thought. may not
lie az insistent for vigorous demands as
patched Immediately.
The purpose of the President and his
advisers is to present a note to Germany
which will satisfy the self-respect OF
the United States. bring he German
Government TO a realization OF the char
acter OF the campaign that II is making
against neutrals OH the high seas. and
at the same time fall shori OF furnish
ing an actual cause for war.
....lH.. .t.l. Ia ia a.
tremely difficult task and many here are
not so certain that the President viii
he able to accomplish II without an open
break with Germany. II there " any
ground for fear that Germany has been
/ seeking a preteNt for war with the
United states. she will undoubtedly be
able to hrd 1t In the note about TO be
sent TO Berlin.
Responsibility on Germany.
II. on the other hand. Germany is not
actuated by desire to draw the United
States into the European struggle, IL Is
hoped that the Presidents note Will open
the way for renewed diplomatic discus
sion OF the issues In the German war
zone programme. In handling this deli
cate situation much hope is founded on
| the Presidents ability to prepare state
paper which accomplishes its purpose
u
/ of offence This the President managed
| to do in a highly successful manner in
/ his reply to Ambassador Won Beinstorrs
! recent memorandum or explorations OF
/ war supplies.
| II Germany should take vigorous eN-
/ Ception to the representations OF the
! United States the next question that
| probably would confront this Govern
| meut would be TIE seVering of diplomatic
! .n5.sN hat 4
\ comes about the respons bilty may be
3 laid fatty upon the shoulders of the
J German Government. OF course IL is
/ absolutely essvt ial that the United
States receive some assurances for the
/ protection OF American lives on the higt:
seas in The future and II the Germans
| should adopt an ohdurate attitude on
| this point 1t is difficult to see how the
| United = .ates would be able TO main
J tain friendly diplomatic relations.
The President and the members OF
his Cabinet proceeded in their deliher-
! atoms on the confident theory that the
people OF the United States do not de-
sire war with GERMANY That was the
unanimous opinion OF the President and
/ his advisers after careful investiga-
! ton into the sentiment OF the country.
The United States III the Forthcoming
. note will give due consideration 10 tn"
! principles Of international law held Ia
1 hav. been violated by Germany and
upon which the demand for PREPARATION
! and assurances as TO the future are Ia
be grounded. but the note will go hey ond
. this.
I The welfare OF humanity will be In
voked AS the broader basis TO- the
American demands. The President il
! likely to take the stand that greateg
issues than even those arising between
the tinted states and Germany out OF
the descriptive incidents are involved in
the general policy which produced these
results