The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-05-31
STIFF REPLY TO
GERMAN NOTE BE-
LEVIED CERTAIN
lCe.tinaea frss. PAGE o.s.>


tain her present attitude. specula'
ton was rife In ofiicial and diplo-
matte quarters.
The presidents powers are OF
course limited. lie cannot declare
war, but he has the power. should
Germany refuse TO accept the Amer
lean viewpoint. 10 recall Ambassa
dor Gerard from Berlin. thus indi
eating that the United States con
siders that Germany's position
makes continuation OF diplomatic
relations unwarranted.
IL was stated on excellent author
!ty today that the president has not
mapped out q complete program
There is still some hope that Ger
many will make the concessions
called for. II not. break must
come.
The nrst step. II diplomatic rela
tons are severed. will probably be
the calling OF congress together In
special session. The linked States
will not declare war on Germany
officials say, but all seemed satisfied
that II we break OF diplomatic re
lations Germany will be quick re
prissl. including American shipping
IN the scope OF her submarine war.
fare.
The United States. II Is believed.
is in duty bound TO make a com
plete answer 10 the German note.
but il is also thought the presi
dent viii expedite and so express
himself as 10 make II clear to Ger
many that the United States can
not tolerate quibbling
The president is expected to
take Germanys Lusitania's claims
up, and reply 10 each specifically
Then he will, i; Is believed. fatty
declare that even II some OF the
German contentious were true. un.
der all rules OF international Law
and humanity the vessel should not
have been sunk before she had been
visited: the fact established that
she actually was an enemy ship,
under the law. and then provision
made for her crew and her passen-
gers escape.
The president is determined not
only 10 secure reparation for the
lis American victims OF the Lust
tania, but he Is also adamant In
his determination 10 secure assur-
ances OF respect for American
rights In the future. Germany Is
10 be told this in unmistakaole Ian
guage. Those who profess TO know
the presidents own mind declare
that he feels very strongly on this
and - ready 20 break on diplomatic
relations with Germany II the I'M
perial government insists on main
tanning a defiant attitude and re
fuses 20 recognize that American
honor IS involved In the present ne
gotiations
Il was considered significant that
the president should be considering
the German note on the same day
in the year when the memories OF
The victims OF the nations greatest
var were being honored. Above
the White House, where the chief
executive was secluded in the study
that was occupied by President Lin
coin during the stormy days from
1860 TO 1865. the stars and stripes
futtered today AZ half-stan, mute
outward evidence that the nations
dead had not been forgotten.
The big task that would confront
the United States II break with
Germany came would be the hnanc-
ing OF some OF Germany's present
and prospective foes Russia and
France both need large supplies OF
cash. The United States never was
In such excellent condition. so far
as finances are concerned There
has been a billion dollar trade bal
ance created as a ,ssult OF Ia var.
The outstanding national - IL
conpa ratlvely small. A vsr loan
would be popular. az many people
have idle cash awaiting Investment
With the government sanctioning.
rather. than az at present, frowning
on the fotafion OF large foreign
loans, the market for the latter
would be entirely changed and
prices would advance instead OF de-
clining
Runorz were revived again that
there might be cabinet division
over the German suggestions OF
arbitration. Secretary Bryan has
been a consistent advocate OF ar
Sitrsti between all nations, az the
sure way OF preventing war. While
Re has refused positively. publicly
10 Indicate his stand In the matter.
~ has been persistentiy rumored
that ne wanted the first note so
framed that arbitration would be
possible. The president and his ad-
yissrs took the view, II II under
stood, that this would be all hight 10
the abstract but that unless Ger
many agreed TO modify her subma'
ripe warfare, arbitration could not
&c thought OF. Secretary Bryan final
ly accepted this view and acouiesced
N the note. He may renew his sug'
Kestions. but II IL not believed they
will be accepted. as the general alt
uat,on remains unchanged.
The full text OF the German note