The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-06-04
Probably Will Be Despatch
ed to Berlin Tonight
or Early Tomorrow
NO GUNS CARRIED
ON LUSITANIA
Government Is Convinced That There
Is No Ground for Such a Contention
and the Note Will Inform Germany
to That Effect.


to That Effect.
WASHINGTON. June T. President
Wilson finished the new note to Germany
today and laid it before the cabinet 1t
srobably will be despatched To Berlin
late tonight or early tomorrow.
No arrangements have been made as to
the time when it will be made public.
White House officials said today that
while the President had penned the note
he had consulted with Secretary BRYAN
over the principles of the details. He also
has been in constant consultation with
| Councillor Lansingh and Attorney General
| Gregory, who investigated affidayits that
| the LUsitania carried guns
! The government Is convinced that there
! IS no ground for that contention and the
note viii 50 inform Germany
| Councillor Lansingh, as the Presidents s
| chief adviser on questions Of international
| law, sat in today's cabinet meeting. He
was invited by the President TO accompany
Secretary Bryan.
All cabinet members uniformly refused
TO discuss the subject OF the note as they
entered the meeting
| While the President and the cabinet
We're discussing the questions at issue a
German agent was on his way to Berlin to
lpresent a 6rst-hand report of an interview
which Count Won Bernstortf, the German
ambassador, had with President Wilson.
Officials Of the German embassy refused
Ito discuss that development, but it be
came known authoritatively that Meyer
iGerhard. who sailed from New York yes
Eterday for Copenhagen. with a guarantee
of safe conduct obtained by the American
government from the allies, Is the man.
4 He is an attache of the German colonial
Office and has been in the United States
several months, representing the German
Red Cross.
The despatch Of the envoy was the ba
sis Of much confidence in German quar-
, tiers here, where it was believed an under
Istanding OF the submarine warfare salts
factory to both Germany and the Unite,
States could be evolved.
His task, however, Is realized to be
difficult one, because the feeling amon
German officials and people, according t
reliable advices here, has been that tn
> American government was seeking to dc
, lprive Germany of its chief weapon o
! defense, the submarine
Today's cabinet meeting began with al
the members practically agreed that tn
= United States cannot consider the GeI
: lman's reply responsive and must insis
=, before the diplomatic correspondence ca
= proceed farther upon an affirmative @
@ negative answer to the principle that tn
T. lives of non-combatants cannot lawful
be imperiled on the high seas
n The purpose of the United States is I
D., keep its rejoinder on the same plane q
b the note of May 13, to ascertain detinitel
n whether Germany win be guided by I'll
h principles Of law and humanity
, Should a negative answer be received
diplomatic relations, it is generally b
heved, could not be continued.
An affirmative reply would be in the n
ture OF guarantee against further viol
tions of American rights in the war zor
sr and would make possible a discussion
the facts in individual cases which ha,
occurred.
le The American point Of view, briefly,
id not the complete abandonment Of subm
Of rine warfare, but its modification to suC
m do other warships in dealing with enemy
to commerce.
Some arrangement whereby mercha1
o. vessels carrying passengers would be do
tn intely known as unarmed vessels is one
ST the proposals which it is generally su
at gested might make the submarine able
he exercise the right of visit and search,
an Following the cabinet meeting t
members were unusually reticent, b
there were same indications that t
note had not been finally disposed
''We reached no final conclusion abo
anything, said one. In answer to
question Secretary Bryan replied: :
on cannot divulge anything that happen
at the cabinet meeting The meeti
lasted two hours.