Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-05-09
President Wilson Calmly
Considering Law and Facts
to Present to His Cabinet

Continued from First Pageo
The President therefore. did not COM
municate with Secretary Bryan or off,
Gals of the State Department Nor
or Congress He has been giving such
close personal attention in the last
few weeks to the particular questions
involved that he was thought to be
determined first to sift for himself the
various questions and shape policy
to be submitted to the cabinet prob
ably tomorrow or Tuesday.
Awaits Public Opinion
In the meantime public opinion was
expected to crystalline and help point
the way Members of the cabinet
cancelled other engagements and held
themselves in readiness for the Presi-
dents call
The only glimpse of the workings of
the Presidents mind was given when
the White House last night Issued its
first formal comment on the disaster.
The announcement was made that the
President realized the country expect
ed him to deal with the situation
with elaboration as we'll as nrm-
ness.
At the State Department, when Secre-
tary Bryan was asked II there was any
can people at this time. he replied that
he did not think this was needed. for
the country understood the situation.
This 10 no time to rock the boat.
It was the same sentiment which
Chairman Stone of the Senate foreign
relations committee had expressed
expressed the desire of the washing
ton administration that prejudices and
passions be not thrust into the un-
stable equilibrium while the govern
ment endeavors to learn all the de-
Carried No Guns.
One important fact was definitely as.
certained by the Washington govern.
ment from the port authorities at New
York who gave clearance to the Lusi-
tania. that she carried no guns either
mounted or unmounted. in accordance
with the caution of the State Depart
ment and British government early in
the war This disposed IN the minds OF
efflcials Of the claim that the German
submarine had a right to attack the
Lusitanfa because she was an auxiliary
or converted cruiser. The officials of the
Cunard line are understood to have
stated that the Lusitania was not con.
voyed.
These facts. in the opinion of law
officers of the American government,
left the German submarine no excuse
under law or reason for an attack
dreds Of non-combatants aboard, in
GLIDING neutral men, women and chill
dren.
The position of the United States
has been that the presence Of con-
traband-even arms and ammunition
according to the rules Of international
law, including the declaration of Lon
don. which Germany has upheld. can
not warrant the sinking Of mer-
chairman without the previous exer-
else Of the right of visit and search
and the removal Of non -combatants 10
a place OF safety.
The government stated thi. in its
last note to Germany, and at the ga me
time issued warning that the i'm
perial German government would be
held TO strict accountability" by the
United States for any loss of American
vessels or lives.
Momentous Question.
The decision which the President ant
his advisers must reach, It was ad.
mitfed in all quarters. is a momentum,
one. Those officials conversant witt
the legal aspects OF tho case pointed
cut that the United State. faced 9
grave and serious problem of lastins
Importance in history. as all tn,
world-neutrals and belligerents alik.
would wait with acute expectancy TO,
the course which the United State,
would pursue to preserve the rules Of
International law, particularly tn.
rights of neutrals with respect to tn.
safety of non -combatants on merchant
ships at sea-
The suggestion that the warnings b,
the German embassy in newspaper ad.
vertisem ents should have been sum
cient TO deter Americans from travel
ing abroad ships flying the British flag
was widely commented upon amons
diploma tists.
AZ the State Department Eecretar,
Bryan revealed the embassy's warming
had never been officially communi.
cated 70 ne state Department. AND
German admiralty In February of II.
PROCLAMATION Of q war zone, the Amert.
can protest ana the reply from Ger.
a,.n;, aynS 1ss H,9venmsnt woule
10 nsutrals. the subject for severa
weeks had not been ofncially mentioned
between the Berlin and Washington
Among a few dfplomatists there wa
4 disposition to crttic1se American
for minimizing these warnings, b,I
soms ohctals pointed out that 1t wa
never conceived that the German sub
passenger liners, which usually car
ried scores Of neutrals, without specif
warning that such . vessel would b
attacked.
Mr.. Bryan's Statement.
With respect to ne reports that tn
STATE Department had discouraged IN
travel Of Americans to Europe, Secre
eary Bryan said:
We have Discouraged ever since tn
beginning Of the war tho going abroa
of any naturalized Americans, and hav
declined to give passports to American
who wanted to 20 abroad for pleasur,
but have given them to those going o.
business"
The appalling nature Of the disaste,
bringing nome to those who had friend
on board the I.usitaniA the human sid
of the occurrence. 10 apparent in the de
meanor of high ofncials. They wer
Xrieved at heart. They made no forma