Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-10
MESSAGES POUR IN
ON WILSON URGING
SEVERE MEASURES
(Continued from FIrst Paee


and has reported that she had no guns
aboard.
Among dipiomatists and officials the
all absorbing topic of conversation
was the probable attitude OF tbs United
States. Count Won Bernstorff, the Ger
man ambassador, returned to the en-
bassy. but said the German official
statement concerning the disaster
made comment from the embassy un-
necessary.
The unofficial Austro G erman opinion
here, however. to justify the act, en-
phasizes the presence of ammunition
on passenger ship, and argues that
the sacrifice of passengers was less
in the balance than the toll that would
have been taken by the ammunition
had it reached the allies.
During the day the German am
bassador received an anonymous letter
warning him that the embassy would
be blown up at :32 a. M. Tomorrow
He turned 1t over to the police
All eyes continued to be focused on
the White House. whore the final de-
cision on the policy &C. be pursued by
the United States is to re made. Only
the Presidents most intimate advisers
know Of the complexities of the prob
lem before him. 1t not only concerns
the attack on the Lusitania, with
nearly 200 Americans on board. but u
series OF incidents indicating n period
Of strained relations with Germany for
many weeks.
COURSE OF GERMANY
DIsAPPROyED BY WILSON
The President has watched without
open comment but 1t is known with
lisapproval, the complaints of the Ger
man officials with regard TO questions
of neutrality, and the efforts to array
GERMAN American sentiment against
the Washington administration az a
means OF urging an embargo on mum
tons OF war against the allies. AT
first Germany admitted there was no
violation of international law in The
sale by private individuals of NUM-
tons of war. When the German am
oassador, in n memorandum, practical
~ accused the United states govern
ment OF not being neutral in the ques-
ton of permitting shipments OF NUM-
tons. the President was amazed The
sinking Of the American steamer Frye
the attack on the Falaba, causing the
death of an American citizen. Leon c..
Thresher; the wrecking without warn
ing. Of the American tank ship Gulf
light, the dropping of bombs on the
American steamer Cushing. and ANAL
" hn lott
Lusitania, constitute series of Incl
dents which the President is trying
to interpret He wants to be certain
whe rhcr they range themselves in or
der toward grave climax OF n care
fully planned policy of hostility. TO the
United States, or whether the sequence
is casual, and the German government
desires to continue friendly relations
with the Washington government
In every quarter the opinion pre-
vailed that the President was con-
fronted with not only the most serious
problem of his own career, hut one OF
the most trying and awkward situa-
tons in the history Of the United
States.
Neutral governments are anxious TO
know what the course Of the United
States will be. They have frequently
intimated to the American government
their willingness to join In any move
ment which might effectively protect
the rights of neutrals. They have
promised their moral support and
some observers think a contingency
may arise as the international situa-
ton develops which may make neces-
sary conversations with the neutral
countries on common policy to safe
guard the rights of neutrals.