The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1915-06-17
WILSON'S NOTE IS
SENT TO GERMANY
INSISTS UPON PREPARATION FoR
LOSS OF AMERICAN LIVES IN
SINKING OF LUsITANIA.
President Stands Upon Principle That
This Country Cannot Afford to Sur
render Any Of the Rights for
Which II Fought In 1872.

Washington.-TheU United States, ON
June 3. sent TO Germany a note re-
uerating its demand for PREPARATION
FOR the loss of American lives in the
sinking OF the Lusitania and setting
'orth clearly the earnest desire Of the
American government that Germany
signify her early adherence to the
principles Of International law-that
neutrals be permitted to travel on un-
armed ships without being subject to
the dangers Of submarine warfare.
Couched In much more friendly
terms than it was believed would be
used when the unsatisfactory answer
to the American note of May Is ar.
rived from Germany, the communica-
ton was cabled to Ambassador Ger
ard for presentation to the German
foreign office.
AS the all-important document on
which President Wilson and his ad-
visers have worked for ten days went
forth, 1t had behind 1t the united sup
port OF the cabinet The one man
who had opposed it's terms because
he believed it might precipitate war
William Jennings Bryan-had re.
signed the portfolio of secretary of
state at the moment the note was dis
patched.
A statement issued by Mr.. Bryan
revealed that President Wilson had
rejected his suggestion for an investi-
cation by commission for a years
time OF the legal phases Of the dispute
9th Germany, during which time
Americans should, according to Mr..
Bryan's view, be warned against TAX
ing passage on any belligerent vessels
carrying ammunition.
President Wilson made no comment
on the statement, but the text of the
note, 1t was stated, would outline
fully the position of the president and
the cabinet.
The president stands unalterably,
it was stated, on the principle that the
United States at this time in its his
tory cannot afford to surrender any of
Its rights; that the American people
lad fought in 1912 for their rights on
the high seas, and could not sacrifice
those rights with the nations rise and
growth to position of command as a
world power.
High officials generally hold the
view that Mr.. Bryan's statement con-
stituted virtual surrender of Amer.
lean rights, guaranteed not only by
international law, but by specific trea.
ties between the United States and
Germany. Mr.. Bryan's suggestion that
Americans do not take passage on
American ships carrying ammunition
was in direct conflict, it was pointed
out, with the treaty of 1928 between
Prussia and the United States, where
In either party, in time of war, is
given the right of free access to bel
ligerent ports for commerce in arms
and ammunition and other contra.
band. Moreover. the right of an Amer
lean citizen to sail on an unarmed
and unresisting merchant ship OF any
nationality in time of war is held by
the president and his advisers to be
an inalienable privilege founded on
the international law OF centuries.
The presidents view Is understood
to be that a new weapon of offense in
warfare can be introduced only II it
is made to conform with the gener-
ally established rules OF international
law existing. The conditions. OF war
may change, he has said, but not the
rules Of war unless there is a general
agreement among the nations which
contributed to the making of interna-
tional law.