The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-05-13
Wilson Note Goes Forward;
Next Move Is Germany's.
Washington Keenly Realizes
Nation Faces Crisis.
IS FRANK and OPEN DEMAND
President Takes Position of
Friend Wantonly Injured.
Break in Diplomatic Relations
TantamOunt to War Thrust.

ld0CdmOunC 10 war luTuSts
Washington, May 13.-Prcsi-
dent Wilson's note to Germany
on the. sinking of the Lusitania
will he given out i'm Washington
this evening.
At 1 O'Clock this afternoon the
note had been cleared over the
telegraph wires from Washington
and was started on its way under
the sea-. As a courtesy a copy is
to be delivered to Count Bern
stroff, the German ambassador.
Washington, May 13.-Germany
must act-not quibble nor promise.
Summed up in a sentence, that is
the United States attitude in the ne
gotiations growing out of the tor
pedoing of the Lusitania with its toll
of American lives.
Amerit as last word is going for
ward to Germany this afternoon. The
note was properly approved by the
president at 1918 a. m. today, signed
an hour later by Secretary of State
Bryan, and Immediately turned over
to confidential secretaries to be re-
duced 70 code.
You can say that the note is now
going forward" Secretary of State
Bryan announced 1T will make be-
tween 1,20O and 1900 hundred words
and will be made public Friday morn
ing. 1t will be in Ambassador Ger
ards hands not later than an early
hour tomorrow and he will present :t
to the German foreign office without
delay"
U. S. Stands Before Crisis.
1t was evident from the attitude of
every high government official today
that they realized Americas affairs
have reached a crisis. The die is cast
in the governments last note. 1t set
forth in language that cannot be mis-
| interpreted that the United States con-
| siders the killing of more than 100
Americans crime a N
civilization. Following as 1t did the
Falaba, the Cushing, Gulflight and
other incidents. it is characterized as
an open act of hostility that admits
of no excuse. The United States ex-
poets all of these acts to be disavowed.
1t also expects that Germany will
pledge herself a nation to see that
there is no repetition.
There are no threats made, accord
ing to those who are closest to the
president. Rather the position taken
is that Of a dear friend who realizes
that his friendship has been violated
without warrant. There is no note of
apology, however. 1t is frank and
open demand for redress that the
United States makes it plain it has
right to expect as the result of the
years of genuine friendship between
the two nations.
Exhortcd Him to Be Firm.
The president and all members of
his cabinet are being deluged in the
meantime with letters and kilograms.
Most of them profess desire to sta..d
by the president. at the same time ex-
horting him to be firm. Their con-
tents were not made public, but IL is
declared that for the most part they
do not appeal. for war. The percent
age of messages that advocate hostil-
tiles is said to be very small. From
them all the president has admittedly
drawn much announcement. He is
understood to have told some of his
closest advisers today that he believes
when the text of his note-and it is
his own note-is published, the Ameri-
can people will feel that the nations
honor has been appropriately safe
guarded.
The president today takes the posi-
ton that there was no reason to
sumo that Germany will not accept
the note in the friendly spirit in which
it was drawn and agree to meet this
governments methods of warfare.
Such being the case he has refused to
discuss the situation beyond the point
of the preparation ana dispatch of the
note. The next move, he has very
frankly stated, is Germany's.
No Extra Session.
Suggestions that he call congress
Immediately in an extra session to pre-
pare for national defense. he has
definitely rejected. His position is that
to take such action at the present time
would be direct insult to a friendly
nation, which, despite the sinking of
the Lusitania, the loss of Americans
land other apparent violations OF
Americas rights, he holds that Ger
many will continue to be as long as
we enjoy diplomatic intercourse.
The president realizes, his friends
say that even though the German an
swer should be such as to cause a
break between the two countries.
there will be plenty of time to take
whatever steps are ceSsary to main
tain the nations honor. He does not
intend there shall be any occasion
given to any nation to say that the
United States did not exhaust all of
the resources of honorable diplomacy
before going further
This, it was stated, does not mean
that the president is not alive to the
possibilities that drastic action may
have to be taken. He already has
gone over this with the members of
his cabinet. At that conference IL was
pointed ou THAT congress would be
assembled in a very short time; that
so far as the national debt is con-
cerned, it is comparatively insisnifi-
cant and that war credit of billion
dollars, if necessary. could be voted
in a hurry and that because of enjoy
in gthis strategic position, the United
States should make haste slowly"
That is what the president proposes to
do.
Like Blow in Face.
Stories that this government would
IContinued on Page Four.l