Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-05-22
CABINET DISCUSSES
DIPLOMATIC PROBLEMS

Washington, May 2i.--President
/ Wilson and his cabinet met today for
the first time since they gathered ten
days ago and approved the note
which the United states subsequently
sent TO Germany as protest against
the sinking of the Lustania with the
loss of more than one hundred
American lives.
In the absence of any definite news
from Berlin, there was no discussion,
it was understood, of the probable
contents Of the reply which Germany
Is preparing.
When the cabinet met there had
been published here a memorandum
given out in London by the foreign
office. saying the arrangements be-
| ing made by Great Britain with
American cotton interests for dispO+
sltion OF their cargo were under
stood to be acceptable TO the United
States. Later Secretary Bryan gave
out a statement declaring that what
ever has been done by representa-
tives Of the state department TO as
sist the cotton interests had been of
an unofficial and informal character
and was not TO be construed as a
recognition ~ the rder-in-eouncil''
issued by Great Britain.
Tonight Sir Cecil Spring Rice, the
British ambassador. issued a state
ment explaining that this was also his
understanding and suggested that
there had been some mistake in tele-
graphic transmission or an erroneous
impression had been given British Of
hcials in London by representatives
of the American cotton interests
there
The United states has never re-
ceiVed a reply TO It's note of March
I 30. in which the British orderin-
council proclaiming an embargo on
/ all neutral commerce directly or in
directly with Germany was declared
TO be a violation of international law
/ In view of the continued detentions
! Of American cargoes under the or
/ der-in-council a note was prepared
week before the Lusitana disaster
I occurred which was TO be sent to the
allies as soon as further data on In
reference with American shipping
( could he secured. In some official
quarters there had been a disposition
To urge the dispatch of the note to
Great Britain at this time because OF
the conviction it might convey to the
Q
4 of the United States TO obtain an ad-
I herenee to international law on the
4 part OF the allies.
There was but brief discussion of
I the question today among cabinet
1 officials. as President Wilson had
/ previously resolved that the situation
with Germany ought not to be COM
/ plcated with any new correspond
ence with Great Britain. He took the
4 position that the questions raised
over the sinking Of the Lustania
I should be settled on their merits, ir-
I respective of other controversies
7 which the United States might have
I with other belligerents, holding
moreover, that the German govern
ment should naturally have every
I confidence in the intention of the
/ United states 20 bring about an adj
! herence to international law wher-
! ever its rights were violated II IS
I practically certain, therefore, that
I the note to England, which has been
I prepared for some time, will not be
7 sent until after the German reply is
received When asked concerning the
( proposed note, Secretary Bryan said;
I we have the subject under con-
sideration. No new representations
have been made TO Great Britain"
I That the United States is prepar-
ed to controvert further the right OF
I Great Britain to enforce virtually a
( blockade against neutral countries,
OBTAINING cargoes OF non-contraband.
such as cotton consigned TO neutral
ports, irrespective of destination, was
the intimation conveyed by Secretary
( Bryan in a statement regarding the
British foreign office memorandum.
Secretary Bryan's statement fol-
lows:
The foreign trade advisers atten-
ton has been called to the statement
Of the foreign Office Of Great Britain
published in this mornings papers an
extract from which follows.
'Fourth-ln accepting this scheme
which it may he noted applies to
shipments of cotton for a neutral
destination only. the principal rep
resentative of the American cotton
interests described To his maiesty's
ambassador at Washington as con-
ceding all that the American inter-
ests could properly ask. It was neverl
suggested that vessels or earsoes with