Norwich bulletin., 1915-05-12
President Wilson
to Act Promptly
FIRST STEP OF POLICY HAS
BEEN DETERMINED UPON
APPROVED BY CABINET
Understood that Germany Will Be
Asked to Explain Series of Incl
dents Concerning Americans and
American Ships.

Washington, May IL. = President
Wilson had practically decided tonight
on the first step in the policy which the
United States government will pursue
as a result of the sinking of the Brit
lSh liner Lusltania, with the loss OF
more than a hundred American lives.
The president will act promptly
within another day or two. A draft
of a communication to be sent to Ger
many was submitted to the cabinet to-
day and approved unanimously.
Will Insist Upon Explanation.
While no official announcement was
made, it was learned that the United
States would present and insist upon
an explanation of the series of Incl
dents which have occurred since the
proclamation of a war zone around the
British Isles-the sinking of the F'ala-
ba, causing the death of Leon G.
ThreSher an American citizen; the at
tack by German airmen on the Ameri-
can steamer Cushing; the torpedoing
of the American steamer Gulf1ight, and
finally the destruction without warn
ing of the Lusitania with a toll of more
than a thousand lives.
To Demand Adherence to Rules.
In what are described by those fa-
miliar with the document as firm and
unmistagable terms, the president
voices the intense feeling of the United
states OF CT the happenings, anu III the
name of international law demands an
| adherence by Germany to the estab-
lshed rules of maritime warfare. The
note asks that some assurance or guar
antee be given hereafter that unarmed
merchant vessels carrying non-com-
batants be visited and searched when
encountered on the high seas by the
German navy and passengers and
crew transferred to a place of safety
before any prize is destroyed.
Warning Did Not Justify Act.
The president points out, it is under
stood, that the United States in it's
note which said Germany would be held
to "strict accountability" for any at
tacks on American vessels or lives had
not admitted any right on~the part of
Germany to carrys,o1 such methods of
warfare, and declares moreover that
the giving of official notice of an in
tention to commit an unjustifiable act
did not justify the act or make it
| lawful.
Will Act Firmly.
What will follow in the event of a
refusal by Germany to comply with the
expressed wishes of the note to be sent
no one in the presidents official fam
lily would predict. They said the pres
ident was determined to act firmly and
| deal with each situation as it arose.
1t was pointed out, too, that in his
speech at Philadelphia in reference to
peace Mr. Wilson was expressing
| merely an ideal that he wished Amer
lea could and would follow.
Vigorous Action May Be, Necessary.
Persons familiar with the presidents
point of view said, however, that he
was by no means unprepared for or
unaware of the possible eventualities of
the present crisis and knew that cir
cumstances and events over which the
United States might have no control
may make vigorous action necessary.
German Note Will Not Affect Course.
The circular from the German gov
ernment to neutral notes assuming
responsibility and promising reparation
for any damage in the war zone TO
neutral vessels will not affect the de-
termined course of the president. 1t
was considered by the cabinet today,
but high officials later pointed out that
there is no guarantee in it that the
lives of Americans will be safeguard
ed, as submarines cannot accommodate
passengers or crew of the vessels they
attack.