The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-31
Even More Unsatisfactory To
Administration Than The
Called Summary From Fer
lin Had Indicated
REMAINS SILENT ON
MOST VITAL POINT
No Mention Made of Demand
For Prompt Action To Pre-
vent Recurrence of The LUSH
tania Outrage - Waiting
Opinion of Nation

Washington, May 3o.-The full text
OF the German reply TO President
Wilson's note was received here to-
night from unofficial sources aud was
even more disappointing to admins
trstion fficials than last nights sum-
mary of its contents
Frankly the German note Is unac-
ceptable to this government. but no
determination has been reached as
to the course of action that will be
pursued by the United states ThS
will depend chiefly upon the express
sions Of public sentiment IN this coun-
try within the next few days.
The text of Germany's note dis
closes that she comedies even less 10
the United States than was supposed
from the summaries that had been
wired from Berlin. On the most vital
points in President Wilson's note--his
demand for promp: action to prevent
a recurrence of the Lusitania outrage
the German note not only is silent,
but contains statement watch Ia
interpreted as a FEDERATION OF the i'm
perial governments determinations TO
pursue her submarine operations.
seems Flat Refusal.
1T fthe imperial government1,s
says the note, .is anal BILE to consider
British merchant vessels any longer
tundefended territory. in the war zone
In time of war designated BY the adj
miralty and STAFF Of the imperial
navy. German commas conso-
quently are no longer in the position
to observe the rules of right of caps
ture, otherwise usual, and with which
they invariably complied before this
The only way in which this fat
statement of Germany's position In
qualified is in sentence in which the
foreign office says that IT reserves
ANAL statement of its position with re-
gard ITO the demands made in cons
nection with the sinking of the LUST
tania' until reply Is received from
the American government
1t Is assumed here that Germany
would not have made these fiat reit-
erations of her policy in the face ot
President Wilson's demands un,css
she intended to stand by them to the
end.
These statements are regarded a.
the most important In the note, Affect
ing as they do the vital principles dn-
DERIVING the case II the Unite States.
An examination of the text Of the
note shows also that Germany does
not go as far In satisfying the United
States as regards the Gulfiight and
Gushing as was represented in the
Berlin summaries. Germany does not
acknowledge that the attacks on these
two American vessels were "uninten-
tional.' She does not even express
regret for these attacks. She merely
says that an Investigation Is in prog
ress to determine the facts in These
cases. and il Germany is in fault. she
will offer her regrets and compensa-
ton in accordance with promises all
ready made to neutral nations in res
gard to neutral vessels This Is taken
to mean that Germany, IL she finds.
as reports Indicate. that the Gulfiight
and Cushing were carrying CONTRA
band of war, will regard the attacks
as JUSTIFIED, So far as her submarine
program is concerned
The Only Concession.
AS a matter OF fact the only speci-
fic concessions that the United States
obtains from Germany from this note
is an expression Of regret in regard
to the loss Of life OF Americans on the
Lusitania and promise to compensate
for noncontraband carrying vesssln
which have been sunk through Ger
many's fault. Neither of these COM
cessions Is new. Both were contained
in previous notes to the State De-
partment.
Although no reference fs made to Ar
bitration. the context OF the note
shows that Germany stands COMMITTEES
to her previous offer TO submit 70 ThaBS
Hague for investigation cases Of none
contraband carrying vessels Of neutral
nations where Germany Ii not sattshedM
of her own responsibility This omar
OF arbitration in no way anects q
Lusitania and Fafaba caves.
The Administration has attuned IT,.
ear to catch the hrst expressions a.
public opinion which will indicate the
attitude Of the countr ytoward the Gak-M
man reply. Tif&rc will be ma 0fRcta&
intimation OF the Administrattonps1
co9rssstNMtsl the - keyno4e ~ 81 ~ pHe
opinion has been sounded.
The President &nd~ his advissro ~
utilize to the utnost tho fntsrval h8-s
tween now and the meeting az the Cab
met next Tuesday morning, n gAehles
thu imprsssion Of the Amsrican lksss
s.S.ssa7 - fSAA nv ~ fxx411IXI|S