Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-07-15
asked for in the American note q


along with the probable action that the
united States woul be compelled to
take as a result of Germany's willing
ness to concede TO Americans the right
to travel on the high seas on peaceful
merchantmen of any nationality.
President Wilson will start from
Cornish. N. H, for Washington in a
day or two to consider with his cabinet
the grave situation impending.
Those in official quarters famil-
lar with diplomatic presidents and
the progressive development of the
having stated it's position and
asked for assurance which now
had been refused, the only course
left open for the United States
seemed to be an announcement
that it intended to assert it's rights
international law. This would
mean in effect that the United
States would await a violation by
Germany before taking action to
compel respect for the rights as
serted.
There was a revival of talk concern
ing the severance of diplomatic rela-
lions.
Lusitania Issue Not Settled.
Germany's complete evasion of liabil-
ity for the loss of Americans on the
Lusitania has revived the subject more
acutely, according to we'll Informed
persons. Analysing the German answer
today officials seeing little on which 1t
appeared the negotiations could be
fourther prolonged. The United States
had devoted it's attention to the prin-
ciple that Americans should be able
10 travel on he high seas on unarmed
and unresisting belligerent merchant
ships of any nationality In accordance
with previously recognized principles
of international law. Assurances had
been asked hat before any destruction
would be attempted the visit and
search of peaceful vessels and the
transfer of passengers and crew to a
place of safety would be accomplished.
1t was recognized that Germany In it's
latest note had ignored this vital ques-
ton.
The expression by Germany of a
confident hope" that the United States
will assume to guarantee that those
vessels have no ~contraband on board,
details of arrangements for the unham-
pered passage of these vessels to be
agreed upon by naval authorities of
both sides" left the implication in the
minds of many officials that Germany
was prepared to destroy American pas
senger ships if they were found to BIO
carrying contraband.
It's Up To Wilson Now.
The reference in the new note to
the Lusitania tragedy created a
profound impression. After asking
the United States in the first place
to consider that the Lusitania was
IN reality an armed auxiliary
cruiser and carried high explosives
which the American government in
its note contradicted with official
information. The German govern
ment it now seems has formally
justified the action of the sub
| S,9riN. ~ ~ 1,Ia. - z.~lto, kLA
vessel thereby refusing to disavow
the act as the United States had
requested.
Germany, it is claimed, in re-
fusina to ACCEPT Liability in the
aHsi AMI 1ffair has lightly paSfsd
the United States commended and
which President Wilson announced
this government would "omit no
word or act" to see observed.
The view that Americans on board
belligerent ships were entitled to no
more protection than neutrals would be
on land In a war zone, was vigorously
disputed by officials, who pointed out
that jurisdiction of the ~belligerent on
land was complete, while the high seas
are Jointly owned by all nations.
The only definite propose made by
Germany to change the present status
the suggestion that four enemy ships
CObll san ulUbI lllS american liiS IL
neutral passenger facilities proved in
adequate-was considered certain OF
PROJECTION because, aside from other con-
siderations of principle involved the
United States could not undertake to
guarantee any interference with the
lawful shipment of contraband from it's
shores to any of the belligerents.
Officials wondered today what in
~fIuences had caused The German gov
eminent to completely disregard the
American point of view. There were
limitations. that in Berlin official
quarters the belief prevailed that in
the United States public sentiment was
divided since Mr.. Bryan's resignation
and that the separation of passenger
and contraband trafff was favored here
as a means of compromising the is
sue.
The official text of the note today
was probably somewhere between Co
penhagen and New York on its way to
the state department. The first word
that came to the state department was
that Ambassador Gerard had late yes
terday notified the telegraph office at
Copenhagen that 1t was on its way to
the cable.
Officials Thought the first sections
would begin coming through New York.
The last note from Berlin took 80 hours
to reach Washington. 1t will take e
eral hours to decipher the text after it
arrives. y
Sends for Lansing.
Secretary Lansing will take the Ger
man note to President Wilson at Cor
nish, n. H., as soon as the official text
arrives.
The president will then decide when
he will return to Washington. The
president conferred with Secretary Tu-
multy at noon today and asked that
Secretary Lansing bring the note to
him..
"A disposition to await the return of
President Wilson from Cornish. N. H,
was the feeling in official quarters here
today, following publication Of the Ger
man reply to the American note on
submarine warfare.
Secretary Lansing stated that while
he had no reason to doubt the cor
rectness of the version transmitted in
news dispatches, no formal considera-
ton could be given TO the question I'M
til Ambassador Gerard's official copy
has been received. That probably will
reach here late tonight. No word lac
been received today beyond the fact
that it was being telegraphed between
Berlin and the American legation at
| ('nJ,enoh o cro1 uyhnrnn a. ,,slF ~ IL