Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-06-05

Washington, d. c., June 4.-Presi-
dent Wilson finished the new note to
Germany today and laid it before the
cabinet. It probably will be dis
patched to Berlin late tonight or to-
morrow. No arrangements have been
made as to when it will be made
public.
White house officials said that the
president had written the note him
self, but had consulted Secretary
Bryan on details, and had consulted
Counselor Lansing and Attorney Gen
eral Gregory.
The government is convinced there
Is no ground for the contention that
the Lusitania carried guns and the
note will so inform Germany.
Counselor Lansing, Wilson's ad-
wiser on questions of international law
sat in today's cabinet. meeting. Pre-
viously he has only attended in the alb
sence of Secretary Bryan but today
Mr.. Lansing had been invited by the
president to accompany the secretary.
All the cabinet members uniformly
refused to discuss the subject as they
entered the meeting:
Cabinet is Agreed.
The days cabinet meeting began
with all members practically agreed
that the United States cannot consid-
er the German reply responsive and
must insist, before the diplomatic cor
respondence can proceed further, on
an affirmative or negative answer to
the principle that lives Of noncombat-
ants cannot lawfully be imperiled on
the high seas, but must be transferred
destroyed.
The purpose of the United States
is to keep it's rejoinder on the same
plane as the note of May 13-to ascer-
tain definitely whether Germany will
be guided by the principles of law and
humanity. Should a negative answer
be received diplomatic relations, it
generally is believed, could not be con-
tinued. An Affirmative reply would be
in the nature of a guarantee against
further violations of American rights
in the war zone and would make pos
sible discussion of the facts in in
dividual cases that have occurred.
The American point of view, briefly,
Is not the complete abandonment of
submarine warfare, but it's modifica-
tion to such an extent as would make
submarines act as do other warships
in dealing with the enemy's commerce.
Some arrangement whereby merchant
ships carrying passengers would be
definitely known as unarmed vessels Is
one Of the proposals which 1t Is gener-
ally suggested might make the submar-
inc able to exercise the right of visit
and search.
Private Envoy on Way.
New York, June 4.-Meyer Gerhard,
who is understood to be the agent Am
bassador Won Bernstorff is sending to
Berlin, sailed yesterday aboard the
It became known here today.
Mr.. Gerhards accommodations
aboard the vessel were engaged by
wireless two hours before sailing. Mr.
Gerhard reached the pier about five
minutes before the vessel cast off.
Until the receipt of the telegram Of
f1cials of the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
line, owners of the steamer knew
nothing of his plans to sail.
Official documents bearing the en-
bassy or consular seals of Great Brit
ain. Russia and France, giving him
guarantee against molestation by Of
ficers of the allies warships while on
the way were in his possession. Other
wise, it was said, he would not have
been permitted to take passage as the
line has been at great pains to ex-
clude from its passenger list anyone
whose name or connections might
cause delays or detention of the ship
by war vessels enroute to her destina-
tion.
4 Mr.. Gerhard registered under his
Own name, giving his home as New
York City. Whether he Is an Amerl-
can citizen was unknown. The agent
carried. in addition to the official docu-