The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-05-11
OUR POLICY IS
STILL UNDECIDED
President Was Not Referring Specifically to Lusi-
tania Tragedy in His Philadelphia Speech =
Conference with Cabinet Today May Address
Note to Emperor William

WASHINGTON, May H. - Presi- !
dent Wilson declared today his speech !
in Philadelphia last night was not a
declaration of policy in reference to
the Lusitania disaster. He was not |
spea king of any special matter, he
said, but of the newly naturalized |
Americans in the audience He used |
the expression that he was thinking of |
the "eain' that some people were try
ing to raise.
The President said he would make a
decision ON the policy to be followed in
the Lusitania case as soon as he had
all elements in mind For the present !
he had nothing to add to his state
ment of Saturday night which was
that he was considering the right
course Of action to pursue and that he
knew the country expected him to act
with dehberation as well as frmness
He made it clear that he was not
referring to any specific cases. That
lead to the belief in many quarters
that he had not reached a decision IN
the Lusitania case and was speaking
his personal feelings as to the ideal
the United States should have in this
situation as well as other phases of
the war
1t was taken that he was endeavor-
| ing TO explain broadly that the United
! States should seek to serve the cause
of humanity by using its influence to
secure adherence to the rules and prin-
ciples of international law wherever
they have been contravened.
Although the general trend of com
ment was one of surprise at the imi-
tation which the President placed to-
day on the Interpretation of his speech,
S those who have followed his speeches
closely pointed out that Mr. Wilson
has frequently spoken implicitly rath-
er than explicitly
!. While the Philadelphia audience
: was impressed with the belief that the
J President was referring specifically to
: the Lusitania tragedy he indicated by
remarks today that he meant his
= speech to be broader than a single in
: cident and to cover the entire subject
/ of foreign relations as well as the sub
:. to the aliens who have become natural
ize in America.
! At the usual hour the cabinet mem
g bers began arriving for the first con-
i ference with the President since Fri
day
: Whether he would take up the Lusi
: tania tragedy or wait for fuller infor.
/, nation was something which none OF
/ the secretaries seemed to know.
q Chairman Stone of the senate com
= mittee on foreign relations, discussed
i. the Lusitania disaster with the Presi
dent before the meeting and later sale
g he had no expectation that an extra
- session would be called.
q am for peace with honor, sale
Chairman Stone. II do not know wha
President Wilson plans to do about tn,
Lusitania case. 1t is his problem an,
s it is useless for others to attempt t.
advise him.
Senator LaFollett, another Whit
t. House caller today, opposed the sug
gestion that diplomatic relations Wit
Germany be broken off.
4 81 am for peace, = said the Senator
lie 81 want the United States to take
is firm stand, but 1 am opposed to war.
ol The Philadelphia speech was inter
ba Ipreted by officials in Washington, nev
We Iertheless, as meaning that whateve
N. course is pursued the United State
he probably would endeavor to serve tn
70 70 cause of humanity by appealing t
-as FGermany to end the submarine wa
fare against unarmed merchant shiI
with non-contraband cargoes.
In some quarters the suggestion ws
made that the President might foreg
g the usual means of diplomatic CORE
~ pondence and addresse message
person to Emperor William.
VS. 1t was pointed out that he migl
? first try to prevent a further attae
as that made on the Lusitania, the
taking up the subject of reparation fl
lay the loss of American lives.
~. IN Germany disavowal of any inte
tbe tion of destroying American lives VI
the looked upon by othclals as slgnlhcal
of of Germany's desire to mainta
felt Friendly relations with the Unit,
States and that her main purpose W
to terrorize Great Britain and paryli
ted trans Atlantic travel.
MIA,
owe Inc CABINET was III sessiou heaiiy 'hi
hours, the longest meeting held in 81