The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-07-17
CABINET TO DISCUSS NOTE.
WILSON ON RETURN TO WASH.
INGTON WILL MAKE STUDY
OF PROBLEM.
Has not Yet Reached Decision Re.
specting Action Which Will be TAX.
en--Germans Have Instructions not
10 Torpedo Neutral Vessels Without
Orders.

oihiSii, ~. H., July I3.--PreSldent
Wilson will not decide finally on the
next steps in the German situation for
several days and not until he has as
certained fully the ideas Of Secretary
Lansing and other members of his
cabinet. While his decision will final
ly determine the course Of the Unit
ed States he Is anxious to move de-
liberately SO there will be no possi-
bility OF mistake.
The president today began receiving
telegrams from various individuals
and organizations in different parts of
the country Although the tone of
the messages varied. 1t was said gen.
orally the senders urged the president
to stand by the position already as
sumed by the United States for the
freedom Of the seas.'
Washington. July 13.--The first
official announcement of President
Wilson's immediate plans for dealing
with the situation that has arisen be-
tween Germany and the United States
came tonight In telegram from
Cornish, ~. H., to Secretary Tumulty.
stating that the president would re-
turn to Washington soon to lay the
subject before the cabinet. The mes
sage indicated that the president had
arrived at no decision as to the Ameri
can policy. A White House statement
said:
Referring to statements appearing
In certain morning newspapers with
reference to the attitude Of the presl-
dent toward the reply Of the German
government, Secretary Tumuity this
evening gave out the following te1e-
gram which he had received from
the president:
Please say that from the moment
OF the arrival OF the official text Of
the German note, 1 have given the
matter the closest attention. keeping
constantly In touch with the secretary
OF state and with every source that
would throw light on the situation
that SO soon as the secretary OF
state and I have both maturely con-
sidered the situation, 1 shall 20 to
Washington to get into personal con-
ference with him and with the cabi-
net and that there will be as prompt
an announcement as possible of the
purposes Of the government.
The statement set at rest reports
that the president already had made
up his mind on the German reply and
that he did not view the situation as
seriously as did high officials In WASH
ington. Word from the president was
sought by officials here. it Is under
stood, as a result of the spread Of
varying interpretations Of reports
from Cornish Of the executive inten-
tlons.
Official opinion here continued to
regard the situation as grave. Secre-
tary Lansing and other members of
the cabinet who are here hold this
view, but are giving no intimations
Of how they think the problem should
be dealt with.
Tonight's statement from the White
House made 1t apparent that the pres
ident has definitely abandoned the
Idea OF summoning Mr.. Lansing to
the summer capital. This programme
conforms to the secretary's desire to
study the problem carefully before
exchanging views with the president.
IL Is assured. however. that Mr.. Will
son will return here the last of the
week, and that the subject will be
laid before the cabinet next Tuesday.
SO far as can be gathered here. the
president will find his advisers prac-
tically unanimous In the belief that
the crucial point In the correspond
ence with Germany over submarine
warfare has arrived and that IL the
American government Is not to re-
cede from it's previously announced
position the next note must convey
more or less pointedly the purpose
OF the United States in the event Of
iurther violations Of American rights.
The general view In official quar-
ters Is that irrespective OF what course
should be followed in the Lusitania
case. statement OF the purpose OF
the United States to assert its rights
Notwithstanding Germany's inhibitions
on the use OF belligerent ships by
Americans seems most likely to be
made In the next note That such ac-
tion would not necessarily lead to n
rupture In relations is generally recog-
nized unless an overt act or aagront
violation OF the principles for which
the United States has been contand,,o