The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-06-05
D. S. ANSWER
TO GERMANY
NOW READY
READ TO CABINET YESTER.
DAY AND BODY APPROVES
AS A WHOLE.
Document Brief But Sticks to
Fixed PrincipIe-wilI Be Sent at
Once-Envoy Leaves for Berlin.

WASHINGTON. June 4.-President
Wilson read in the cabinet today the
uraft or the note TO be sent 10 Ger
many, demanding. in effect, an ad-
herence by that nation to the hu-
name principles OF international law
IN the conduct OF maritime warfare.
as affecting neutrals. Comparatively
brief, but described as insistent anc
emphatic, the communication will be
cabled not later than Monday for
presentation by Ambassador Gerard TO
tne German foreign minister. Dr.
The cabinet approved the note as
a whole. Minor changes in phrase
ology may be made within the next
Two days as II is revised in detail TO
conform with previous expressions IN
diplomatic correspondence OF the
United States - that the United
states must know definitely and very
promptly whether Germany intends 90
lgnore visit and search rights ana
continue her practice OF torpedoing
vessels without warning. placing the
lives of many ncn-cOmbatants IN
jeopardy, or whether rules OF mari
time warfare which have governed for
centuries will be followed. The al.
Tentative course Is not stated. but It
Is now generally known that the
United States, in the event of an un-
favorable reply. will discontinue dip
lomatic relations with Germany.
Restates Former Position.
The note sets aside as irreIevent
all the contentious of the German re-
ply or last Saturday. except one -
whether the Lusitania was armed -
and restates the position taken by
the United States previously that the
Lusitania, after official investigation
by competent inspectors. sailed from
an American port with no guns
aboard. mounted or unmounted. n
further calls Germans attention 10
the fact that the Lusitania did not
attempt any resistance. being torpe-
doed without moments warning.
The arrival of communication
from the German government today,
expressing regret for the attack on
the American steamer Gulfiight, Of
ferlng TO pay indemnity as soon as n
claim is presented and details ar
ranged. and making further promise
10 take into consideration any facts
which the United States may have
on the dropping of bombs by Ger
many's airmen upon the American
steamer Cushing. made unnecessary
any discussion any of these cases in
the new note TO Germany. The
United States had not. for that mat
ter. been disposed TO discuss in the
new note anw of these cases. When
the principles of the main issue-the
submarine warfare on merchant ships
are settled, the Lusitania and Fala-
ba cases in which more than 100
Americans lost their lives will be
taken up.
A Private Conference.
Secretary Bryan had a private con-
fore the cabinet meeting began Coun-
esllor Robert Lansing who had pre-
pared some OF the memoranda on
which the new note is based. was In
vited by the President to sit at the
~ hfnnf foh NJ aI. -
International law which might arise.
The meeting lasted two hours and
at It's conclusion all the members. a.
was said. had agreed to the principle
ssst sss fq5n 4be sendSe in Re Po'f 10 %as ws iSd
by Count Won Bernstorff, the German
ambassador. of Meyer Gerhard. an
attache of the German colonial office.
as special envoy to carry messages
from the embassy and 60 outline the
American point of view to the govern
ment at Berlin would not delay the
despatch Of the American note
In German quarters here. however.
IL Is expected that the reply will be
withheld until Gerhard has arrived
and explained the situation. This, 10
is estimated. will take AZ least a fort
night as the boat on which the envoy
sailed would not bring him to DEN
mark much sooner.
Officials Reticent.
While there was a general reticence
TO discuss the contents OF the new note
because President Wilson had not fin
ally decided on its phraseolOEy. the
impression prevailed in official quar-
ters that the document as now drafted
was emphatic particularly In that II
does not invite discussion on any OF
the points raised by Germany. The
communication 10 was said. simply
calls attention TO the statement In the
NAmerican note Of May i3 that the Lus-
Otania was unarmed and e-~1resses the
view that the imperial government
must have been uniformed on this
phase OF the case.
In some quarters 10 was suggested
that the President before dispatching
the communication would ombody In
10 a restatement Of the conclusion OF
the note Of May 10. in which the inn
perial government was warned not 10
expect the United Statcs ITO omit any
word or any act necessary 10 the per
formance of ifs sacred duty Of main
tanning the rights OF the United States
and its citizens"
II was explained authorltatively 70
night that while the British and
French embassies had not arranged
safe conduct for Mr.. Gerhard on his
trip 10 Berlin as the representative of
the German ambassador. the state do
partment had found means of assert
ing Itself that the envoy would not be
molested by the ships Of the alued
fleet ~ was said. too. that safe con
duct had not yet be m granted for Ur
Bernard DernberR. although 20 un-
doubtedly would be arran ged when
wanted.