The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-06-09
REPLY
BRIEF, BUT Strong
United States Must Know Promptly
if Teutons Intend to Keep Laws
of Sea.

Washington, June 4.-Prcsident
Wilson read to his Cabinet to-day the
draft of a note to be sent to Ge---
many demanding, in effect, adher-
ence to the humane principles of in
ternational law in the German con-
duct of maritime warfare as affect
ing neutrals. Comparatively brief,
but described as insistent and empha-
tic, the communication will be cabled
not later than Monday.
The Cabinet approved the note as
a whole. Minor changes in phrase
ology may be made to make it con-
form with previous expressions in
diplomatic correspondence of the
United States. The principle is fix
ed and unalterable-that the United
States must know definitely and
promptly whether Germany intends
to ignore visit and search rights and
continue torpedoing vessels without
warning, or whether rules of mari
time warfare, which have governed
nations for centuries, will be follow
ed.
The alternative course is not sta-
ted, but it is generally known that
the United States, in the event Of an
unfavorable reply, will discontinue
diplomatic relations with Germany.
The note sets aside as irrevelant
all contentious of the German reri..
except one-whether the Lusitania
was armed-and restates the position
taken by the United States previous
ly, that the Lusitania, after official
investigation by competent inspec-
tors, sailed from an American port
with no guns aboard. 1t further
calls Germany's attention to the fact
that the Lusitania did not attempt
resistance, but was torpedoed with
out warning.
Cushing and Gulflight.
The arrival of a communication
from the German Government to-day
expressing regret for the attack on
the American steamer Gulfight, Of
fering to pay indemnity as soon as
claim is presented and details ar
ranged, and making further prom
ise to take into consideration any
facts which the United States may
have on the dropping of bombs by
German airmen on the American
steamer Cushing, made unnecessary
any discussion of these cases in the
new note to Germany.
Secretary Bryan conferred with
President Wilson before the Cabinet
meeting began. Counsellor Robert
Lansing, who had prepared some of
the memoranda on which the new
note is based, was invited by the
President to sit at the Cabinet table
and advise on points of internation-
al law.
The meeting lasted two hours, and
at it's conclusion all the members, it
was said, had agreed to the principle
set forth in the note. 1t was stated
that the sending to Emperor William
by Count Won Bernstorff, the Ger
man ambassador, of Meyer Gerhard,
an attache of the German colonial
office, as special envoy to carry mes.
sages from the embassy and to out
line the American point of view,
would not delay the dispatch of the
note.
While there was a general reticence
to discuss the contents of the new
note, the impression prevailed in Of
fetal quarters that the document was
emphatic, particularly in that it docs
not invite discussion on arg of the
points raised by Germany. The COM
munication, it was said, simply calls
attention to the Ameri:c.r note os
May 13, that the Lusitania was un-
armed and expresses the view that
the Imperial Government must have
been uniformed on this phase of
the case.
In German quarters here it is ex-
pected that the German reply will be
withheld until Gerhard has arrived
and explained the situation. This, it