Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-05-13
State Department Officials
Highly Indignant Over
Dernberg's Position.
WILL MAKE RIGID
REPRESENTATIONS
Wilson Confers With Cabi-
net While Thousands of
Messages Flood Office.

Nv ASHINGToN' May l2'-rresi-
" dent Wilson had practically
decided tonight on the first step in
the policy which the United States
government will pursue as result or
the sinking of the British liner
I.usitania with the loss of more than
one hundred American lives.
The president will act promptly
within another day or two. draft
of communication to be sent to
Germany was submitted to the cabinet
today and approved unanimously.
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 ises-the sinking of the
Falaba. causing the death of Leon c..
Threshcr, an American citizen; the
attack BY German airmen on the
American steamer Cushing, the tor
pcdoing of the American steamer
GulfHght and finally the destruction
without warning Of the Lusitania with
a toll Of more than a thousand lies. o.
Terms are Firm.
In what are described by those ia
miliar with the document, as firm and
unmistakable terms, the president
voices the intense feeling of the
United States over these happenings
and In the name of international law
demands an adherence by Germany
10 the established rules Of maritime
warfare. The note asks that some
assurance or guarantee be given here
after that unarmed merchant vessels
carrying noncombantants 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.
The president points out, it is un-
dcrstood, that the United States in its
note which said Germany would be
held to "strict accountability" for any
attacks on American vessels or lives
had not admitted any right on the
part of Germany to carry on such
methods of warfare and declares,
moreover, that the giving of official
notice of an intention to commit an
uniustifiable act did not justify the
act or make it lawful.
Merely an Ideal.
What will follow in event of refusal
by Germany to comply with the
wishes Of the note about to be sent,
none of the presidents official family
would predict They said the presi-
dent was determined to act firmly
and deal with each situation as 1t
arose. 1t was pointed out too, that
in his speech In Philadelphia in ref
crence to peace Mr., Wilson was ex-
pressing merely an ideal that he
wished America could and woud fol-
low
Persons familiar with the presi-
dents point Of view indicated, how
ever, that he was by no means un-
prepared for or unaware Of the pos
sble eventualities of the present crisis
and knew that circumstances and
events over which the United States
might haze no control might make
vigorous action necessary.
VIII Not Deter Wilson.
The circular from the German gov.
eminent to neutral countries, assum-
ing responsibility and promising
reparation for any damage in the war
zone to neutral vessels will not affect
the determined course of the presl-
dent 1t was considered by the cab
met today but high officials later
pointed out that there is no guarantee
in IT that the lives Of Americans will
be safeguarded, as submarines can
not accommodate passengers or crew
Of the vessels they attack.