Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-19
PLAIN STATEMENT
GOING TO GERMANY
Kaiser Will Be Told Consc-
quences of Further Violations
of American Rights.
WILSON'S MIND is MADE UP
Not Likely to Be Any More
Discussion of Principles
Involved.
WILSON'S MIND is MADE UP
( Especial to The Timcs-D,aDatc, !

tSpeClal 10 Inc lin cS- Dispatch !
WASHINGTON, July 1s.-President
Wilson will return 10 Washington to-
morrow morning at S o'clock, and will
be confronted with the consideration
of three most important international
qucstions-the reply 10 the German
note on submarine warfare, the gem
eral note TO Great Britain in main
tenance Of the rights of American and
neutral commerce, ana the situation in
Mexico.
The President will cola borate with
Secretary Lansing in completing the
note 70 the German government thar
has been tentatively prepared. to he
dispatched probably before the end of
the coming week
NO FURTHER DISCUSSION
OF PRINCIPLES INVOLVED
While details as to the course which
is 10 be followed are withheld. IL ia
known that both the President and
Mr.. Lansing have practically made up
their minds that definite statement OF
what the consequences of further vio
iation OF American rights would be.
should be given TO the German govern
ment in the next communication. There
is little likelihood that there will he
any further discussion of the prin-
ciples involved
bE the recent attempt TO destroy the
British liner Orduna carrying n score
0! Americans. on her voyage TO the
United States with no munitions or con-
trahand, officials here feel that the
position OF the United States. as stated
IN l,s previous notes. has been ma
terially strengthened. They declare il
bears out the American contention that
'he character of a vessel, her destina-
uoh and cargo can be safely deter
mined only by visit and search.
AS yet official information is lacLinc
20 show whether the Orduna was AZ
tackled without warning, and what tho
circumstances were of her encounter
with the German suhmari rine In dis
cussion OF the case, stress is laid unon
the TACT that the vessel was en- route
TO the United States, and carried mn
cargo OF Importance. making the at
tack on vessel carrying Americans
seemingly wholly unwarranted
n statement of the circumstances
PROBABLY VIII b. made by American
passengers aboard the Orduna TO the
state Department although the Ameri-
can government might take coCnizauce
OF news statements. A thorough in
vestisation OF the facts will be made
ana request probably will be sent
TO the German government for It's re-
port of the affair
ATTEMPT TO SINK oRDUNA
MAKES DANGEROUS ISSUE
All officials admit that the attempt
to torpedo the Orduna has Injected a
dangerous. new issue into the pro-
posed reply OF the President to Ger
manys note on the Lus!tania
Oftcials say that the facts already
developed. showing that the Orduna
was attacked without warning, If they
are not successfully controverted. will
inevitably force the President 10 as
sumo very grave attitude toward the
whole German submarine war policy.
All the Developments within the past
week have indicated that The President
was about TO approach the reply TO
Germany in a most friendly spirit, and
with the desire to keep the already
serious controversy within the domain
OF diplomacy. II is now hintcd by of
hcials that IL it should be shown that
the German submarines attempted to
destroy the Orduna without challenge
or without the usual warming shot.
Germany will have to face two Lust
tania incidents irstead of one.
The Importance OF settlement of
the question OF the facts is demon
Strated by the action of the State De-
partment in cabling AT once to Ambas-
sador Page at London for the British
official version and to Amba assador
Gerard at Berlin for the report Of the
German admiralty on the Orduna in
cident
1t is expected that Ambassador Page
at London acted Immediately on his
own initiative when he heard of tho
attack on the Orduna and has obtained
by this time a report from the Ameri-
can consul at Liverpool
GERMANY ATTEMPTS TO SHOW
ABSOLUTE DISTINCTION
The consideration uppermost in the
minds OF most officials here is that Ger
many intended TO show by the attemnt
to torpedo the Orduna that she makes
an absolute distinction between Amer
lean ships and British ships, whether
or not the latter carry or are supposed
10 carry American citizens as pas
scngers.
The view of the President, as under
STOOD by American diplomats, Is that
'N"' S''iHcii9 ouSnt 10 De as Safo
on an unarmed. nonresisting British
passenger vessel as they are on a nom
resisting American vessel.
The German diplomatic opinion. how
ever as expressed here, is that Ameri-
can citizens have not an "indisputalie
right to travel on passenger vesscis
OF the enemies of Germany in time Of
war. 1t Is anticipated, therefore, thai
Germany. If She attacked the Ordunn
without warming and put the passen-
gers in jeopardy of their lives, will set
up once and for all the proposition
that American citizens must keen off
the passenger vessels of the belliCer-
ents which traverse the German and
English war zones.
1t has been stated definitely by high
German officials that there is no such
thlnS III international law, as clained
htr I'll