The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1915-07-15
.GERMANY'S Note
DISTURBS WILSON.

Washington, July 10.-Official Wash
; ington takes grave view of the
situation produced by Germany's re-
fusal to meet the demands of the
United States growing out of the
Lusitania disaster with the loss of
over 100 Americans. Upon President
Wilson rests the burden Of deciding
| the policy which the United States is
to follow, and the country may ex-
pect him to act with deliberation as
we'll as with irmness, when he has
examined all phases of the problem.
Secretary Lansing has withheld all
comment. AS soon as the complete
official text of the German reply ar
riyes tomorrow he will begin a care
| full study Of it, and Monday or Tues
day will go to Cornish, for confer
ence with the president. The presi
dent will then return to lay before
the cabinet the course upon which he
has determined.
| What action the United States will
take, officials could not predict with
certainty. Some of those familiar
with the presidents point of view
previously, with the details of the
present situation, pointed out that
there seemed to be but one course
open with dignity and honor to the
! United States-the continued asser-
ton to exercise the rights of neutrals
on the high seas in accordance with
the established principles of interna-
tional law. The responsibility for
any rupture in the friendly relations
which might subsequently ensue be-
tween the United States and Germany,
it is declared, will then fall upon the
Berlin government.
| There is yet no definite crystaliza-
ton of opinion among officials re-
| garding the details, but distinct
tendency toward reiteration, not
only in a formal note, but in the ac-
tual practice of the principles for
which the United States has been con-
tending, is the unanimous verdict of
high officials.
The German reply is thoroughly I'M
satisfactory and leaves the situation
exactly at the point where it was in
the days Immediately following the
sinking of the Lusitania. While con-
! tinued exercise of American rights in
the future is urged as the logical
course to be followed, it is recognized
also that the United States cannot
abandon the demands it has made for
a disavowal of intent to drown Ameri-
cans, and the question of reparatiOn.
Germany's refusal on these points
may lead, it is believed, to steps by
the United States to show it's disap-
prevail of the last note.
Whether Ambassador Gerard might
be recalled or complete severance of
diplomatic relations ordered, is again
discussed in official circles as well as
among the diplomatists. In the ab-
sence of word from the president no
definite indication of what might be
done eventually is obtainable.
Before taking any definite steps,
however, officials declared the Ameri-
can government would probably send
a note to Germany formally rejecting
the proposal to permit the unrestrict-
ed use of American passage ships or
foreign merchantmen under American
flag provided they carried no NUM-
tons of war. In the same note for
NAL notification will probably be given
the German government of the inten-
ton of the United States to continue
to exercise it's rights with the an
nounced expectation that they will be
respected. There is little disposition
in official quarters to hurry decision
on the momentous questions involved
but there is no denial in any quarter
that the general situation is fraught
with grave possibilities. On the law
of the case the American position is
held by officials to be absolutely i'm
pregnable, because it is founded on
well-recognized principles by which
nations have long been guided. The
deadlock has been reached, it is de-
clared, on the legal interpretations re-
spectively held by Germany, and the
United States in submarine warfare as
affecting the rights OF neutrals.
| The German Note
Berlin, July 1O.-The undersigned
hoe Tho hnnnr ia MAKO tho following