The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-12
AMERICAN ACTION
. WILL Be FIRM AND
TO The POINT I.
VIII Depend On How Germany
Takes It's Medicine Whether
There viii Be Trouble
Wilson Will Demand
Piracy Shall Cease
Lives of Americans On High
Seas On Merchant Or Pas
senger Ships Must Not Be
Endangered

Washington. May tf.--Prea-
dent Wilson laid before his cabt-
net today the fundamentals OF the
poatCy no win pursue In dealing
with tho destruction Of American
ffvcs ON the Lsssatania, and other
serious complaints which the
United States has against German
operations I'm the war zone.
Tho cabinet discussed the policy
Tor three hours and at the CON-
olussiom Of tine meeting members
felt that the course which Is to be
followed by this governments mad
been decided upon
FFfsis is general outline OF the
policy,
The President win wait q short time
before making any definite disclosure
Of the steps to be taken At the con-
ciusion of this period . note will be
sent to Germany carefully phrased so
rs to express the adherence OF the
United States at the sinking OF the
Lusttania and the resentment OF this
! government at the attacks on the
ssGulflight and the Cushing. Al the
same time. every effort will be made
consistent with firmness TO avoid
statements which might be construed
by Germany as justification for a
declaration OF war.
PREPARATION WIN BE Demanded.
In this note President Wilson. re rs
understood. win ask for PREPARATION in
the I>usitania and other cases involv-
ing the destruction OF American life
and property, and will call upon the
German government for assurances In
the future az to the protection OF the
lives OF Americans upon the high esas.
formal disavowal of any intention
on tina part OF the German govern
ment to destroy American lives and
property proba bly, also will be sought.
4 IL there IL any serious rupture with
Germany rs the result of these repre-
sensations. that government and not
The United States will be responsible.
The plan of the administration In this
note is TO avoid any open break with
Germany. and to lay the entire onus
OF any warlike move upon the kaiserss
government II there is war between
the United States and Germany, IT will
be Of Ciermany's making The situa-
ton that results from the note to be
sent by the United States will be Just
rs serious as Germany herself may de-
sire TO make IL.
Give People Time to Think.
BY delaying the note to Germany for
a short time. President Wilson hopes
+
feels at Germany's acts will have cool
sd In a measure, 50 as 10 permit of the
consideration by the people of the
country of the legal points that have
been presented as partial justification
for the German policy. II is hoped. too
that the public on second thought may
not be as inslstent for vigorous de-
mands as would be the case IL the note
was dispatched immediately
The purpose of the President and his
advisers is to present note to Ger
many which will satisfy the self
respect of the United States. bring the
German government to realization OF
the character OF the campaign that IL
is making against neutrals on the high
seas, and at the same line fall short
Of furnishing an actual cause for war.
II Is acknowledged that this is an
extremely difficult task and many here
are not so certain that the PreNuent
will be able TO accomplish ii without
frNpffrnaH ~ 0n-~-A Dx-.s