Evening star., 1915-06-02
PRESIDENT TALKS
T0GERMANEN
FOR HALF AN HOUR
(Continued from First Page.)
note which the United States govern
ment plans to send.
Hints Of Notes Contents.

Hints Of Notes Contents.
The unvarying determination Of the
United States to hold Germany to
strict accountability for violations
of American rights Is to be embodied
In the note, the drafting OF which was
under way today. The main point of
the document. which is to be brief and
will be dispatched without delay. very
tain definitely and promptly II the
German government intends to adhere
to the principles Of International law
hitherto accepted universally. or TO
conduct its maritime warfare accord
ing to its own new rules.
Refusal to recognize the principles
set forth by the United States that
every unarmed merchantmen must be
visited and searched and passengers
and crew transferred to place of
safety before the vessel and cargo OF
contraband is destroyed Will be FOL
lowed. 1t is generally predicted. by
severance of diplomatic intercourse
with Germany.
Acceptance Of the principle in way
lives would lead. it was believed. to
reiteration Of the request for reparation
due the families of the American victims
of the Lusitania and a disavowal Of the
act.
Count Won Bernstorfrs visit to the
White House today. 1t was thought pos
| sible. might have far-reaching effect on
the solution of the problem.
In view Of the acute point that has
been reached in the negotiations between
the two countries the substitution Of per-
sonal diplomacy for formal notes might
possibly, it was suggested in many quar-
ters, pave the way for further informal
discussion such as often influences the
solution Of international problems.
On the other hand. there was pessimism
in some quarters over the ambassadors
visit, because 1t was pointed out that the
American point Of view had been ex-
planned in detail by Ambassador Gerard
in Berlin to high German officials.
BernstorR's Purpose.
In sosne diplomatic quarters close to
tho German embassy It was said that tho
ambassador would seek to elicit from
President Wilson his views on how Cor
many could conduct her submarine war
fare without interfering with neutrals
and might suggest tho separation Of pas
senger and contraband traffic, or tho CIV
ing assurances that the British govern
ment would not arm its merchantmen
carrying passengers
Note of these reported proposals. Of
f1cials conversant with the position of
the government indicated. would be
considered until a definite acquies-
cence by Germany in the fundamental
principles of international law was OBJ
tained.
Decision to base the American note
on the principles of international law
to obtain an affirmative or negative
reply, and not enter into a technical
discussion of details raised in the Ger
man communication which avoided the
main issues, was. the single develop
ment of the cabinet council yesterday
Some of the cabinet members favor
ed even excluding any reference to the
facts asked for by Germany, settling
first the point as to whether Germany
intended to disregard the American
warning of last February that IT
would Insist on the exercise of the
right of visit and search with respect
to vessels on which Americans were
travelling.
Cabinet Discussion.
Ono cabinet ofiicer believed the
American government should enter In
to an investigation Of the points raised
by the German answer. submitting It's
proof and giving the German govern
ment an opportunity to do likewise
Others. however. declared that such a
process would only mean delay. and IN
the event of a deadlock on facts would
leave the United states. which had al
ready assured itself Of the authenticity
of its information and whose good
faith was at stake, without remedy
for the present. anu III Ing q
tacks on American vessels having been
committed Notwithstanding assurances
to the contrary.
The opinion was general that the
United States would restate during the
course of its note that the Lustitania
wa. unarmed and would ignore such
questions as to whether the carriage
of ammunition is a violation or Amer
lean law.
President are coming daily In tele-
grams from all parts of the country.
Members of the cabinet spoke of this,
and declared that the Presidents view
of the entire problem was such that
he could be depended upon in his action
TO maintain the honor and dignity OF
the country.
Lusitania Unarmed.
Omcials reiterated today that the
United States has absolute proof that
the Lusitania was unarmed; that de-
tails of an Investigation made by Gus
toms inspectors at New York before
the Lusitania sailed, the assurances of
the British government that no mer-
chantman would be permitted to sail
| armed from the United States, and
| report by Collector Malone on all the
articles in the Lusitania's cargo. in
cluding ammunition. were before tho
washington government when the note
Of May 13 was written by the Presi-
dent
pointed out that lives of American oiti-
zens could not be lawfully placed in
jeopardy on merchantmen (which did
not resist capture" but on mature de-
liberation and an investigation Of all
the facts the words "unarmed NOR
chantmen" were inserted, covering ali