The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-07-10
Officials Refuse to Discuss
Won Jagow's Reply Before
Receipt of Official Text
From Berlin.
NOTE PERSUASIVE
Secretary of State Lansing
Leaves for Cornish to Con.
fer With President on
Next Move.

WASHINGTON. July 10.-Secretary
of State Lansing will go to Cornish.
N. H., to confer with President Wilson
on the German note as soon as the
been received here from Ambassador
Gerard
White house officials declined to
comment on the German reply on sub
marine warfare until the official text
had been studied and discussed by
the president.
Secretary Tumulty sent inquiry to
the summer White House to learn
when President Wilson would return
to Washington
In state department circles it was
stated that the offer by Germany to
guarantee the safety of four belliger-
ent ships to carry Americans in the
war zone under the American flag
would embarrass seriously the admin.
istration in its further demands on
Germany for safety for Americans at
sea.
Note is Persuasive.
Altogether the German note as
available was stated to have been
much more carefully constructed and
to be a more friendly statement than
the previous one. While 1t holds to
the position that Germany must con-
tlnue her warfare olong as England
continues her blockade against the
shipment OF food, officials. declared
that the German position was stated
SO persuasively that public sentiment
would be less determined in its oppo-
sition to the German view than before
the reply was received
disappointing, but not alarming"
This was the view privately express.
ed today in administration circles OF
the attitude OF the German govern
ment relative to President Wilson's
demands for freedom of the seas for
Americans. as shown in the text Of
the German note received from press
services. Official comment on the
probable attitude of this government
was withheld pending an opportunity
to study the official text of the note.
This was expected to be available late
today.
Correspondence Required.
But the unofficial translation of the
German reply was regarded as indi.
eating clearly that Germany has not
come forward with the direct answer
expected, and there must be further
diplomatic correspondence It was be-
lieved not unlikely in official quarters
that the United States following two
evasive replies from the kaiser's gov
eminent. now will demand a concise
response to former communications.
The entire subject. it is expected.
will be considered by the president
and his cabinet on next Tuesday If the
presidents plans to return to Wash.
lngton by that date are not changed.
stripped of its argumentative phras-
es. the German reply holds out no as
surances for the safety fof Americans
If they travel on undesignated passen-
ger ships of belligerent-sucha as the
Lusitania was. Americans on Ameri-
can ships. or marked" neutral ships
need not fear molestation. providing
this government assures Germany
that the neutral vessels carry no con.
traband. The note in effect saws there
is no need for Americans to use YES
sells belonging to the enemies OF Ger.
many.
Interpret One Clause.
Officials read with especial interest
that clause in the note saying that the
mere presence of Americans aboard
any ship can not protect it.
This was construed as another
iiSIAOu VI saying tndC II Americans
persist in using British passenger
steamers, believed by Germany to be
carrying contradand. Germany viii
not guarantee their safety. Nor does
Germany indicate that she will stop
to search or seize such ships. In fact.
IT is pointed out that British merchant.
men endeavor to ram submarines and
that the latter cannot run such risk.
1t is upon this point that the gravity
OF the situation was believed 70 rest,
1t is not believed that this govern.
ment will agree to a system under
which Germany must be advised of
the sailing of neutral vessels with
Americans aboard, such information
carrying with it a guarantee that
there is no contraband aboard the neu-
trail vessel.
Likewise. it is regarded as impossi-
bic that the United States can. accept
doctrine that an American on a non.
fighting enemy ship is subject to de-
struction without warning anywhere
on the high seas.
Lansing Takes Note.
WASHINGTON. July 1O.-Secretary
Lansing's trip to Cornish was decided
upon by President Wilson in a long.
distance telephone talk with Secretary
Tumulty at the white house TODAY.
The secretary Of state will carry the
note as received in Washington from
the American ambassadors and win
discuss with the president preparation
Icontlnued On PAGE EIoht.1