Evening star., 1915-06-02
PRESIDENT TALKS
T6j.GiRMAN ENVOY
FOR HALF AN HOUR
Count Won Bernstorff Calls at
White House to Learn Mr..
Wilson's Attitude.
HISTORIC BLUE ROOM
SCENE OF THE PARLEY
IBerlin Government to Be Asked to
State Whether 1t Will Obey In
ternational Law.
NOTE NOW BEING PREPARED
Rejoinder to Teutonic Reply to Sub
marine-Lusitania Demands Ex-
pected to Go Forward Friday.
Firm Stand Taken.

4 LII Stdho AoASh.
Count yon Bernstorff, the Ger
man ambassador, had an audience
with President Wilson today at
noon. The President received the
ambassador in the historic blue
room of the White House. The
ambassador had requested the
interview in order to learn by
personal conversation the point
OF view of the man who is
charged with the execution of the
foreign policy OF the United
States.
The ambassador motored to the
White House through a down
pour OF rain. The President,
wearing cutaway suit, appeared
in the blue room promptly at II
o'clock. The ambassador was in
a formal frock attire Isaac
Hoover. the chief usher at the
White House, announced the
visitor.
The President and the ambas-
sador sat down on the davenport
in the historic parlor overlooking
the Potomac, and began a half
hour talk. Inasmuch as the CON
\ ference was of an informal char
acter, no announcement concern
ing it is expected to be made.
To Sound the President
was understood, however. that the
OBJ jct of the ambassadors call was to
gain from the President an idea of the
points in the last American note which
| the United States is determined to in
sist upon and to give the President an
idea of the German viewpoint
The President, II was said, showed
| Willingness 10 explain the position of
the United States and TO make II clear
| that IL had been decided on only after
careful consideration by the cabinet
| yesterday. when it was decided to send
4 note Of inquiry asking whether the
imperial government would abide by
he principle of international law
The President. it was also understood
gave his views. expecting the ambas-
sador TO enlighten the Berlin govern
ment on the earnest intentions OF the
rited States to obtain a strict ac-
tptability for the loss of Americans
The Lusitania. The visit was en-
.,e.y friendly and cordial
While Count BernGforff was in the
blue room with the President the Ital-
Tar ambassador. Count Macchi di Gel
:. arrived. but the two diplomatists
os@ nation are on opposite sides in
war, did lot meet.
Interview Held Private.
White House officials declined TO
make any statement regarding Count
Sernstorr's visit, saying the engage
cent was made at the ambassador 8
egUest and that II would be improper
or the President TO say anything con-
trning IL
Reports that the ambassador had
made any definite proposals were gem
sfsify discounted. The President has
sifeady begun the preparation Of the
neat note TO Germany, and IL was not
expected that the call of the ambassa-
T would have any material effect
~ either its sense its wording
Immediately after his visit TO the
Nhlte house Count Bernstorf returned
the embassy and went into confer
see with the hetd OF the chanceliory
appeared that he was about TO com
Jnicate with Berlin
With the exception Of the hour di-
led between the German and Italian
lbsssadors. President Wilson spent
entlre morning In his study work
on the he" note, which officials
e.pect VIII go before the cabinet Fri
@ " and be dispatched 70 Berlin i'm
mediately afterwaid.
Ambassador Sought Interview.
The meeting between the President
Or the United States and the personal
representative Of the Emperor OF Ger
many. the ambassador OF the imperial
German government. was the drs.
sought by Count Won Bernstorfr since
'ast September. when he returned from
Germany after a summers visit. The
call then was TO pay respects
The German ambassador has told
friends that he realizes the seriousness
~ the situation. and is anxious TO do
all that he can personally to prevent !,
-upture in friendly relations. He is
unable to communicate easily however
with his government because German
cables were cut by the allies Conse-
auenuy high officials did not believe
the ambassador could briag any pro-
posal from the German government
differing from the answer which Herr
Won Jagow, the German ftreixn min
lister. gave TO the American note last
Saturday. This was pronounced un-
satisfactory in cabiet council yester-
day.
The Importance OF the conference
however. lies in the fact that although
the Interview was sought Without in
struc.i from the German govern
ment. ne views which the Presiden,
expressed to the ambassador MOULD bs
transmitted by the latter TO Herlin ant
yould naturally be taken into con.
sideration there in connection with the
Continued on Second Pase.l