Evening star., 1915-06-08
HIS ADVISERS REFUSE
TO DISCUSS CONTENTS
Chief Executive Denies There Has
Been ANY Delay in Prep
aration.
GREAT CARE IN WORDING
"Not Unsatisfactory" Stand of Ger
many in Gulfiight Case Will
Not Affect Main
Issue.

Issue.
After two hours discussion OF
President Wilson's rejoinder to
Germany at the cabinet meeting
today. Secretary Tumulty, at the
direction OF President Wilson,
made this announcement:
The note was gone over and
discussed and put in final form,
1t probably will go forward to
Berlin tomorrow
The cabinet members uniformly
refused to discuss it.
But Few Changes Made.
1t was learned definitely that only a
few slight changes in phraseology were
made at the cabinet meeting. The note
was taken up in the form in which it
came after Secretary Bryan had spent
several hours on it after his confer
ence yesterday with the President
After the meeting Secretary Bryan
went to luncheon with other members.
Cabinet members said that while pos
sibly few words might be changed 1t
would go forward to Berlin in practi-
cal1y the form agreed upon at today's
meeting.
Denies Delay of Note.
President Wilson announced during
the morning that the note to Germany
was about finished and would go for
ward shortly He did not specify the
day, but said the document would be
gone over in final revision today by the
cabinet
The President explained that there
had been no delay of any kind in the
preparation of the note, that he had
brought only rough draft of it to the
cabinet meeting Friday and that there
had been all sorts of suggestions since
the cabinet last met The general
character of the document, however, he
said. had not been modified and he be-
lieved 1T had the approval of the en-
dire cabinet
No one has held up the note, the
President emphasized, work on II be-
ing as expeditions as was consistent
with carefulness.
Note Not Unsatisfactory.
The President today gave no inkline
cf its contents. believing that forecasts
might set up misconception abroad
of the American position. The arrival
of the note from Germany Offering to
pay for the attack on the Gulflight and
asking for further information con-
cerning the dropping of bombs on the
Gushing was referred to by the Pres
ident as not unsatisfactory.
Those two cases, however. do not af-
feet the main principle for which the
United States is contendng. that Amer
cans unarmed merchant ships of
every nationality shall be transferred
TO place of safety before any prize is
destroyed.
only through tho newspapers of the
mission Of Van GheII Geldemeester
who arrived here III the interest OF
neutral mediation III the European
war The President added however he
believed individual officials might have
information concerning Geldemeester's
trip here.
Mr.. Bryan Delayed.
When the cabinet assembled to dis
cuss the note. Secretary Bryan was
not among the number. He remained
at his ONCE at the State Department
cioseted with Counselor Lansing and
WAG
detained by important work. Mr.
Bryan. however. has conferred fire.
auently with the President while the
note has been under construction
At noon. after the cabinet meeting
had been under way an hour. Secretary
Bryan arrived.
I'm sorry am late" he said as he
entered the executive Offices II sent
word to the President I would be de-
tanned by important work"
There were some indications that the
discussion OF the note might have been
delayed until Mr.. Bryan's arrival
Count Won Bernstorff Waits.
The dispatch Of the note to Berlin was
being awaited with intense interest here
particularly in diplomatic circles DR..
Constantin Dunnba, the Austrian ambas-
sador, left today for his summer home
at Lenox. Mass. Count Won BernstorfY
the German ambassador. who will go to
Cedarhurst, L. l.. for the summer. is
waiting here pending the dispatch Of the
note.
Reports that any influences had arisen
TO delay the transmission of the note are
oficially declared to be without foupda-
tion. On the contrary. 1t was said that
there had been no intentional delay. but
that the document had required con-
siderable scrutiny and careful considera-
ton Principal responsibility for the de-
phrase the note to leave no room for
doubt or further argument as to the
American governments position
Some Changes Made.
Legal officers OF the government ex.
amined the note with minute care yester.
day. and sent II back to the Pres,den,
with some changes.
Questions Of such serious moment ar.
involved in the wording Of the new note
that the President is anxious that ths
communication not only shall meet hi.
own wishes. but should be unimpeachab bid
from the point Of view Of the experts II
International law.
While the President has been at worl
on the document special agents Of the
United States government have b,
their investigation corroborated II
every detail the statement made in tn,
0ontinuea On Second Raxs,l.