The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-06-08
MYSTERY UNSOLVED
ABOUT GERMAN NOTE
ICON ,lnued from page IL

icon ,tnued from paSC ID
newspaper representatives. Corneret
It the door, they referred all inquire:
% the president himself.
81 cannot say word" said Secre
:ary McAdoo. "You know diplomac!
Is not in my department and while
might have opinions, think that the
president will make public all of the
information that can be published a.
this time"
Secretary of War Garrison came gu
alone. He refused to say word ant
rather petulantly shook his head wher
an inquiry was pressed on him as t
Just what had become Of the note.
e There was an interval Of nearly ter
minutes. Then Secretaries Daniels
and Wilson came out. Behind them
was Attorney General Gregory and
bringing up the rear was Secretary
Bryan. His face was still set IN a
hard line His turned down collar
was damp and his face was beaded
with perspiration.
"Was the note to Germany com.
pleted?" he was asked.
Il cannot say what transpired at
The cabinet meeting" was his sharp
'eply.
"Can you clear up the mystery now
md tell us just when the note will go
forward to Berlin?" persisted the in
Iuirers.
"That is a matter that 7 would not
,are to discuss" said the secretary as
ae joined Secretary Lane, who had
lust put in an appearance.
II am not in position to make
tny announcement of any sort now.
have said that l would tell you when
.he note actually has been started
Ind will keep my word"
On ordinary occasions the secretary
goes directly from the cabinet meet
Ing to his office. There he drinks a
bottle of milk and eats sandwich.
But today he entered Secretary
Lanes carriage and with Lane and
Secretary Daniels proceeded to the
club for luncheon Other
members of the cabinet already were
there.
1t was understood that Secretary
Bryan carried to the cabinet meeting
4 memorandum which he had pre-
pared in which he justified his views
that the proposed note was not of
character that the United States
should send to Germany. He took
the position that the United States
In executing arbitration treaties with
the great majority Of the countries of
the world has taken a direct position
against war. As he put it-what is
The use of considering arbitration on
matters that could be adjusted where
dollars and cents were concerned?
War does not follow disputes that eff
ject only property rights, is said to
be the position he assumed. But on
great questions of national honor, the
sort that make for open rupture and
warfare, his stand was arbitration is
The real and only remedy.
Secretary Bryan is understood to
have urged that the United States
could stand firmly for its rights and
not close the doors to any explanation
that Germany might make. The great
Thing to be avoided, he is understood
10 have declared was any attempt to
put Germany-or for that part any OF
the belligerent powers of Europe-in
q position where they could not make
and meet the United
States at least half way in remedying
con ditions complained Of.
1t is understood that Bryan pointed
out that Germany had accepted the
principles of the arbitration treaties
as general proposition. but that she
had failed to execute the treatry be-
cause of the European war breaking
out. In as much as her opponents In
the present war enjoy the advantages
under such treaty, Secretary Bryan
Insisted that Germany should not be
denied the rights of that character.
Although there is no way of deter
mining how other members OF the
cabinet stood on the question, rumor
had it that Secretary Daniels and
Secretary Wilson took the position
that every concession possible should
he made to keep the United States out
Of war Secretary Wilson. for years
prominent in the ranks of organized
labor, told of receiving great many
letters urging that this country not
take any position that would bring on
war and recalling that organized la
Dor has gone on record as opposed to
this country'S entrance into war I'M
less it's territory is invaded.
Although Secretary Bryan will con
sinue his efforts to secure a modifca
ton of the note, persons close to the
president insisted this afternoon thai
they will prove unavailing. The presi
dent is said to have decided, after
hearing all Of the arguments, that the
safest course for the United States
to pursue was to remain firm in it,
demand that its rights under interna
tional law be preserved. And it wa!
expected that after the note that was
approved at today's cabinet meetin.
Is finally OKd by Councillor Lansing
It will be sent forward.
Naturally there was speculation a!
to whether Secretary Bryan woillt
sign the note in his official ckoacit.
as secretary of state. Up to the pres
ent, he has refused to take any posi-
tive position on the subject. AS
matter of fact, If he should do so. III
would place himself in a position tina
his retirement from the cabinet woult
be certain. His closest friends in