Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-14
MIND STILL OPEN
ON GERMAN REPLY
Wilson Will Return to Capital
Soon to Lay Entire Subject
Before Cabinet.
REPORTS ARE SET AT REST
Washington Had Heard That He
Did Not Regard Situation
as Being Acute.


official announcement of President VIII
sons Immediate plans for dealing with
the situation that has arisen between
Germany and the United States came
to-night in n telegram from Cornish.
y. H.. to Secretary Tumulty. stating
that the President would return to
Washington soon 10 lay the entire
subject before the Cabinet. The mes
sage indicated that the President had
arrived at no decision as to the Amer
lean policy.
White Hous. statement said:
Referring to statements appearing
in certain morning newspapers with
reference to the attitude OF the Presi-
dent toward the reply of the German
government. Secretary Tumulty this
evening gave out the following tele-
gram which he had received from the
President:
Please say that from the moment
of the arrival OF the official text of
the German note, have given the mat
ter the closest attention. keeping con
stantly in touch with the Secretary of
state and with every source that would
throw light on the situation: that so
soon as the Secretary Of State and II
have both maturely considered the situ-
alton. / shall go to Washington to get
into personal conference with him and
with the Cabinet, and that there will
be as prompt an announcement as pos
sible Of the purposes Of the govern
ment'"
WILSON'S STATEMENT
SETS REPORTS AT REST
The statement set at rest reports
that the President already had made up
his mind on the German reply, and that
he did not view the situation as seri-
ously as did high officials in Washing
ton. Word from the President was
sought by officials here, 1t is under
stood, as Il result of the spread Of vary
ing interpretations of reports from
Cornish of the executives intention.
Official opinion here continued TO re-
gard the situation as grave Secretary
lansing and nther foeDbera sof II, q
Cabinet who are here hold This view.
but are giving no intimations of how
they think the problem should be dealt
with. Mr.. Lansing and his assistants
have been canvassing the entire field
OF law and policy presented by the
German note. and the President already
has received some OF the memoranda
bearing on important points.
To-niShts statement from the White
House mado it apparent that the
President has definitely abandoned Sthe
idea of summoning Mr.. Lansing to the
summer capital. This program con-
forms to the secrctary's desire to study
the problem carefully and form his
own conclusions before exchanging
views with the President. It is as
sured. however. that Mr.. Wilson Will
return here the last of the week, and
Cabinet on Tuesday.
NECESSITY FOR FIRMNEss
NOT UNDERESTIMATED
Emphasis has been laid in official
quarters on the fact that the issues in.
volved are of such seriousness and i'm
portance that consideration for a week
or more OF the kind OF reply that should
be made ought not to be construed as
meaning that the necessity for a firm
definition OF American policy was un-
derestimated.
So far as can be gathered here, the
President will find his advisers prac-
tically unanimous in the belief that
the crucial point In the correspondence
with Germany over submarine warfare
has arrived, and that II the American
government is not to recede from its
previously announced position on the
principles involved, the next note must
convey more or less pointedly the pur-
poses of the United States in the event
of further violations Of American rights
In the war zone. lust what the United
States should say with reference To
Gcrmany's refusal to disavow the in
tention to destroy American lives on
the Lusitania has not crystallizcd in
the informal discussions in official quar-
ters. suggestions are heard that the
German government might be informed
that the United States intended to con
tinue to press for a settlement of the
case, and would keep II constantly TO
the front rs diplomatic issue of prime
Importance between the two countries
OF PURPOSES
is BELIEVED NECESSARY
The general view In official quar-
tors is that, irrespective of what
course should be followed in the LUST
tania case, a statement OF the purpose
Of the United States to assert it's rights.
Gcrmany's inhibitions
on the use of belligerent ships by
Americans, seems most likely to be
made nexFin the note. That this action
would not necessarily lead to a rupture
In relations is generally recognized,
unless an overt act or fragrant viola
tton OF the principles for which the
United States has been contending
should ensue. Omcials point ont that
while the German rnnJy dons not ciya
any explicit assurances on the subject,
the actual practice of German subma-
rine commanders in the last two months |
has been to visit neutral ships and to |
give warning to belligerent merchant
men, thus enabling crews to be trans
ferred TO boats In case destruction OF a |
vessel as prize is determined upon. I,
Washington at Liver !