Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-23
TO BE DELIVERED TO-DAY
BY AMBASSADOR GERARD
Repetition of Lusitania Disaster
Would Mean Convening
of Congress.
PROTEST TO GREAT BRITAIN
merce by Allies Is TO BE
Taken Up.

WASHINGTON, July 22.-The United
States government. before determining
the next step In it's general diplomatic
policy. will for brief period await
indications from official quarters in
Berlin as to the reception of the new
note warning Germany that the loss
OF American lives through further vio-
lation OF neutral rights would be re-
sarded as "unfriendly."
The note, started on it's way to Berlin
late last night. probably will be de-
livcred by Ambassador Gerard to-
morrow. 1t will be given out by the
State Department for publication in
Saturday morning newspapers.
Everywhere in official quarters II was
pointed out to-day that this document
speaks the final word on how the
United States government would re-
gard further transgresSions of It's
rights. The general trend of comment
was that the repetition Of such dis
as,er as befell the Lusitania would
mean the convening of Congress by
President Wilson for consideration Of
the action TO be taken.
In the event that the status quo is
maintained. however. and there arc in
dications through official or unofficial
Channels that German submarines In
future will conform to the rules OF in
ternationai law in saving the lives Of
Americans on unresisting merchant
men. President Wilson will take up
very soon the situation that has arisen
with Great Britain over interferences
with American commerce by the allies.
PRACTICALLY COMPLETED
FOR SEVERAL WEEKS
For several weeks n note has been
practically completed. almost ready to
ne sent to the British government, re-
iterating the protest against devia-
tIons from international law in the
operations OF the order in council
aga!ns, commerce with Germany
The note has not been sent because
President Wilson has been unwilling
10 give the impression in Berlin that
the controversy between the United
States and Germany in any way could
be conditioned on the progress of the
American governments negotiations
with other belligerents. It became
known to-day. however that IL there
are indications that the new American
note TO Germany is received in a
friendly spirit and there appears no
intention further 10 violate neutral
rights on the high seas, the new pro-
test to Great Britain will he dis
patched probably within the next fort
night.
Data is being gathered at the State
Department, but the new note prob
ably Will not deal to any extent with
specific instances. contending chiefly for
the general principles involved. with
renewed insistence on notifications in
the order in council to conform with
what the United States regards as the
accepted rules of international law.
The recent fling of legal caveat an
nouncing that orders in council and
British municipal law do not AFFECT
the rights of American citizens under
International law was the frst step in
the policy which the United States is
pursuing to obtain acquiescence in its
point OF view.
DETERMINED POSITION
TAKEN BY UNITED STATES
Interest centered for the most part
to-day in official diplomatic quarters on
the nature of the, new note to Germany
SUFFICIENT of it's contents had become
known to cause widespread comment
on the apparently determined position
taken by the United States. No
progress has been made in the investi-
cation or the case of the British liner
Orduna, at which n German submarine
is alleged to have fired torpedo with
out warning. No evidence has been re-
ceived to establish beyond doubt that
the torpedo was fired. and until this is
available, it was said in official quar-
ters, the case probably would not be-
pressed. None of the American passen-
gers was awake at the time the attack
was made. and the State Department.,
it is understood, is reluctant to act on
what might be construed as partisan
testimony, such as the statements of
the officers and crew Of a British YES
sci. AS yet no report has been asked
from Ambassador Gerard at Berlin. be-
cause prima facie case has not been
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