The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-05-14
UNCLE SANS PROTEST TO GERMANY
IS FRIENDLY BUT SERIOUS NOTE

H. W IL
will wait until the German answer
comes, he and his advisers continuing
| to hope that Germany will deem the
note friendly and the request reason
able.
Strain on Officials.
The president and Secretary of
! State Bryan showed the strain today
| of the last week. Ever since the
Lusitania was sunk they have realized
/ that crisis was at hand. DR.. Cary T.
Grayson, the presidents personal
physician has stepped in to force the
president to take a needed rest. The
president wanted to make the trip by
rail to New York to review the feet
l leaving here Monday night and re-
turning mmediately afterward. DR..
Greyson vetoed this suggestion so the
chief executive will leave here tonight
on the Mayfower, cruising leisurely
down the Potomac, out through the
capes and up to New York away from
| routine business and under conditions
that will be ideal for complete rest.
He is to keep in touch with the state
most important messages will be sent
to him. He will be disturbed only as,
| much as is absolutely necessary.
Friends Of Secretary Bryan openly
| declared that he has aged ten years
in the last week. His features are
drawn, his eyes bloodshot and his gen.
eral appearance is that of a man who
has been through very serious or
deal.
i [By John Edwin Nevin, United Press
Staff Correspondent
\ WASHINGTON, May 14.-Anxious
waiting, coupled with policy OF alb
solute silence, marked the admins
tration's attitude toward the German
situation today. Developments are
no longer in President Wilson's hands
to direct. The center of activity has
been transferred to Berlin. Until Ger
many speaks, this government can do
nothing more. Her last word" has
been said. Americas position is out
lined to the world. Hereafter. Amsri.
ican life must be made safe. That is
all the United States asks. To make
lit safe, Germany must cease for all
time her submarine and aerial at
tacks upon merchantmen or upon
President Wilson'S direct order, the
loquacity which has marked certain
government departments has been en-
tirely absent today. The white house
set the example. There was nothing
more that could be said until Ger
many's reply was received, declared
officials following the chief execu-
tive's example. Comment not only
would be superfluous at this time.
but very dangerous, they declared.
Their views, was that it was not for
the United States to help Germany
make up her mind; she will weigh
the recollection of years of sAsendship
and decide whether they are to be IN
terrupted.
The state departments attitude was
! the same. Secretary Bryan attended
/ tho ca binet meeting and told the
president and his associates that he
had not yet been advised by Ar.s<&s-
sador Gerard whether or not the
note had been received. He ex-
pressed the belief, however, that the
scheduled program had been carried
out to the letter and that the note
had been presented in person by tn"
minister.
! No Haste for Reply.
! There will be no undue haste in
| pressing tor reply. High officials
were careful to point out today that
! there was nothing in the note that
could be constructed as making 1t an
ultima tum. t,rt because of its dignffi-
ed protestations of friendship, 1t is
expected Germany will not lose much
time in considering it. Nevertheless
/ officials, especially President Wilson.
realize that war times are different
! from peace times and that with the
| kaiser much at the front. few days
will have to be allowed before a re-
ply can be expected.
| Ambassador Gerard is expected to
notify the state department as soon
as he has accomplished his mission,
just when the reply can be expected.
! He will report also on the character
! of his reception, but this report will
be of such extremely confidential ma
ture that 1t will be available only to
President Wilson and Secretary Bry-
an.
Today's cabinet meeting reviewed
the situation, but took no further
steps. The president and his advis-
ors were greatly pleased at the AZ
most unanimous approval with which
the nation has received the declara-
ton of the president. They took 1t
as showing that whatever the final
| outcome. the administration has a
solidified public sentiment at its back.
)
Navy Is Ready.
One thing that was emphasized
both at the war and navy depart
ments, was that no efforts were being
made to get either branch of the serv-
ice on war footing. The navy is
obviously far better prepared for en-
ergencies than usual, In that the ss-
lantic fleet Is mobilized at New York
with complete personnel, with bunk
ers filled and with ammunition maya