The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-01

Government take Immediate steps TO
prevent the recurrence of anything so
obviously subversive of the principles OF
warfare The inference that this in
cluded r demand for the abandonment
Of Germany's entire submarine cam
paign against merchantmen was based
on q previous statemerA In the note that
experience has shown that submarines
cannot he used against merchantmen
without an inevitable violation OF many
sacred principles OF justice and hu-
mainly"
Hangs an Arms Issue.
The fact that the German Ambas-
eador II seeking light on the exact
relief which the President has in mind
is believed here to be at least an en-
couraging sign.
The German view which viii he pre-
scented to the President. though, is that
the United states can ask only that It's
citizens be secured In their right TO go
20 Europe in safety. This proposition
will be followed by the statement on
behalf OF Germany that certainly the
United States woul not expect indem-
MITIGATION IL one Of It's citizens took pas
sage on a British warship and thus
became the victim of a German sub
marine. Then will come what Is in the
German view the crux OF the whole SIT
uation as II exists at present. namely.
the charge that the Lusitania was an
armed cruiser of the British navy. The
German believe the whole case turns
on this issue, and on this belief base
their demand that the Governments
come TO an agreement upon the facts
before Germany be expected TO reply
finally to the Presidents note.
The German note ASSERTS that Ger
many believes the Lusitania was an
armed auxiliary cruiser. and reports
have reached the German Embassy here
10 the same effect. The embassy's re-
ports have been transmitted to the
State Department. II In the assump-
ton Of the embassy that II II Is
established to the satisfaction of the
United states tina the Lusitania was
an armed cruiser then the whole cas-.
Of this Government will collapse ana
there will be no point at issue between
the two Governments,
The British Embassy notified the state
Department to-day that the Lusitanla
was not an auxiliary cruiser.
Demands Proof From u. :.
There is a difference OF opirion. how
ever, as to whether II is required tha'
the United States prove that the Lusl-
tapia was unarmed or that Germany
prove that she was armed. The unlteu
states Government WAS informed ina
the L~usitania was unarmed n the
presidents note IL based on that sup
posed fact. Germany replies that TINS
is mere assumption and now practically
demands that the United states prove
Its assumption in the face OF IN
formation the German Government has
received.
There is also a difference of opinion
as 10 whether proof that the Lusitanla
did carry guns would ruin the American
case. The think II would. but
in other quarters the view l. held that
even the establishment OF what Ger
many claims to be the fact would moi
alter the indictment against Germany
for sinking the Lusitania without warn
ing and causing the death of more thar
100 Americans. 1t il commended thai
even II II were proved that concealed
Guns were on the Lusitania, 1t certainly
could not be assumed that she was In
any proper sense a ship OF war that
such guns obviously must have beer
for the purpose OF defence. II they were
on board that the Lusitania was not
engaged in or intending to engage In
cruising operations against the enemy
and that all the circumstances clearly
showed her to he engaged solely In hei
accustomed service OF carrying passen-
gers and freight from New York &c
Liverpool.
Furthermore. the Lusitania. II II
argued. WAS not under the orders OF
the British Government, not having
been requisltioned for service as a nava
auxiliary. and the British Government
was In virtual agreement with thu
United States that British passenger
vessels he not armed. lest by arminl
themselves they be even slightly ex'
posed to a claim by Germany tina
they were open TO attack as vessel
OF war.
Arms for Defence only.
In fact the state Department itsel
on September 20 last issued a memo
randum as a guide TO American port Of
fcials in which II was set forth tina
merchant vessels Of ~belligerent nationl
might leave American ports carrying
guns and ammunition for the sole pur
pose" of defence.
Il is upon this point. however. tina
the German Embassy will make its ef
forts to Offset the impression created
by the note from the Berlin Foreigl
Office. 1t has been indicated though
that the influences acting Dol the Ger
man Embassy here are not exactl!
those which predominant In Berlin. Tn
contrast between the attitude OF tn
embassy. subsequent to the despatch
Of President Wilson'S note and tn,
communication just received from Der
lin is pointed 10 as evidence of tn
danger in putting too much stress oil
views expressed in the one quarter a.
likely to prevail in another.
The note received from Berlin to-da.
Is not in accordance with the recon
mendations made by Count Won Bern
storff. The State Department was givel
10 understand several days ago that IN
Berlin war STATS and not the Foreig'
Office might be expected to have tn
greater part in the drafting OF the repl.
20 President Wilson. The note itself |
regarding as confirming the forecast.
A~pprehensiye lest some published re
ports of the last few days might Civ
rise TO the impression in the public min,
that the President is not receiving tn
undivided support Of his Cabinet in tn
present crisis officials authorized Z
speak for the President to-day denie,
that there was n split in the Cabine,
in well informed quarters here no sucl
denial was needed, as 1t has been thor
oughly understood that the differences o
opinion as developed in the Cabine
prior to the despatch OF the President
note were only such as are in~evitabl,
found in any group OF men considering
q given problem.
No Split In Cabinet.
There is not the slightest basis 10
even the suggestion that the Cabine
Is anything but united in its devotion /
and support Of the President and tn