Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-06-03
Meeting of the President and the
German Ambassador Is Cor
dial and Their Conversation
Is Friendly.
CONFINED TO FUNDAMENTALS
Well Informed Persons Think
Conference May Have Bene-
fetal Bearing on Whole Euro
pean SituatiOn-German-Am-
orleans Urge Moderation.

| Washington, June 2.--President Wilson
! emphasized in all informal talk with
| count Won Bernstorff the German am
! bassador, to-day the intense feeling of
the American people over the sinking Of
the Lusitania ana other violations of
American rights on the high seas, and
impressed upon him that the United
States must insist on an adherence by
! Germany to the accepted principles Of
international law as they affect neutrals.
| No announcements We're made after
the conference. which mad been arranged
at the ambassadors request but II was
stated authoritatively that there would
! be no change in the plan Of the Prcsi-
dent and his cabinet to send in response
to the German reply to tho last American
note an inquiry to ascertain definitely
whether the imperial government will
abide by international law or follow It's
own rules of maritime warfare. The
note which is being written by President
Wilson. will be dispatched before the
end Of the week
In 20 minutes conversation the Prssi.
sonal representative of Emperor William
exc hanged views on the delicate situa-
tion which has arisen in the relations
between the two countries. Their meet
ing was cordial. their conversation friend
IS. and both discussed fundamentals and
no, details Count Won Bernstorff later
told friends that the interview had been
satisfactory and that the President had
Il
bassador felt very hopeful when he re
turned to his embassy. He believed the
report which he prepared for transmits
sion to Berlin would cnliGiten the Ger
man foreign office on the true state of
the American governments opinion and
pave the way to better understanding.
OPINION DIVIDED.
In official and diplomatic quarters
opinion was divided as to the effect of
the conference. Some thought ii would
be beneficial and bring from Germany
conciliatory reply to the next American
communication. Others pointed out that
the German ambassador similarly was
hopeful when President Wilson's note
Of May l3 was dispatched. and that he
recommended several methods to the
German foreign office of meeting the
American posit on satisfactorily. 1t is
an open secret in diplomatic quarters,
however, that the ambassadors sugges-
tions were not followed then. and specu-
lation was widespread as to what innu-
cncc mis- communication of to-day-ex.
pressing as it did the viewpoint of the
President himself-might have on his gov
ernment
In view Of the difficulties which the
| embassy has experienced in communicat-
| ing with Berlin ON account of the cutting
| Of cables, it is understood the President
granted a request of the ambassador
| that the United states assist him in
| transmitting his messages concerning the
| delicate situation that has arisen. The
! ambassadors report of his talk with the
President Will be sent In code through
the state department and will be de-
| liVered by Ambassador Gerard
The conference" at the White House
was the outstanding development of the
day in the International situation Off
Gals and diplomatists We're keeniy in
! terested in what took place but they
learned few details.
WILSON EXPLAINS ISSUE.
! The President is understood to have
| explained the American government q
| position and to have reiterated that il
was based on legality. II ia believed the
| ambassador was told that II the German
government could conduct its submarine
| warfare In accordance with tho dictates
of humanity, in Il way that would not
endanger tho lives and property # neu-
trails, there would be no objection to the
use of the underwater craft as COM
| 4
of visit and search, however. the Presl.
dent is said to have explained. would bo
insisted upon when subma rines en-
counter unarmed merchantmen or YES
sells which do ont resist capture.
| In some Wcll-informed quarters the,
| conference was discussed as likely to lead
to important results with respect to the
general European situation While the
| President, 1t is believed I'm adherence
| to his expressed policy. would not talk
OF the relations of this country with
Great Britain to the German ambassador.
the possibility that reutrn to interna-
tional law by all the belligerents might
eventually be accomplished by the efforts
of tn" United States. and thus pave the
way Tor the eventual restoration of peace
| In Europe was a suggestion widely cur
rent.
GERMANS OPTIMISTIC.
IN German quarters tonight optim-
ism was apparent, The view was cx-
pressed that the German reply did not
purport to he full answer to the
American demands and that if the Uni
ted states in its next note stated that
official investigation showed that the
Lusitania carried no guns, it would not