Albuquerque morning journal., 1915-06-02

lsf NoRNiNa 1ouHhhL srHciAt tgAeHp wiRxl
Washington, June 1.---president
Wilson determined today that the
United States must ascertain defi-
nitely and very promptly from Ger
many whether the imperial govern
ment intends in the future to be
guided by the accepted principles of
international law and the rights of
neutrals or to follow its own rules Of
maritime warfare.
The president listened TO varied
expression OF opinion at meeting
Of his cabinet. taking little part in the
discussion himself Later he began
the preparation of il note to be dis
patched before the end of this week,
embodying his own IDEAS and what
seemed to him the consensus Of upin-
ion of his official family
To Make Pointed Inquiry.
The verdict Of Il majority VI the
cabinet was that the German reply
to the American note, following the
sinking of the Lusitania. was unre-
spensiye and unsatisfactory; tfat Il
dsregarded the good viii OF the
United States. doubted its facts and
disciaimed all blame for the destrue-
tion Of the merchantman with Aneri-
can lives The questions of fact
raised by Germany were regarded as
irrelevant at this point. The trend Of
opinion was that the United States
must inquire and obtain an early an-
swer as to whether Germany Intends
to recognize the hitherto accepted
principle that neutrals may travel
anywhere on the high seas on unarm-
ed merchant ships, even II carrying
eontraband, and that merchantmen
which do not resist capture must be
visited and searched and the passen
gers and crew transferred to place
Of safety before the vessel is destroy
cd
Next Step Contingent on Reply
An unfavorable answer to this in
quiry would lead, IL was predicted In
official quarters, 10 severance OF
diplomatic relations on the ground
that The United states could not con-
tinue Intercourse with government
which repudlated these principles,
Steps would then be taken TO inform
Americans of the danger To which
they We're exposed as a result Of this
action and such measures as neces-
sary adopted TO safeguard the lives
and interests of citizens OF the Unit
ed states.
Should Germany accept the prln-I
eiple In way that would constitute
a guarantee for the future, thei
American government would reiter-
ate It's demand for strict account
ability for violations of this princi-
pie and the killing of Americans inI
the torpedoiug, without warning, OF
the Lusitania.
Law 10 BE Adhered To.
The decision Co base the American
note on the principles of internatiQn-
al law to obtain an affirmative orl
negative reply and not enter into Il !
technical discussion of details raised
in the German communication which
avoided the main issues. was the
single development of the cabinet
council Some Of the cabinet men, |
bers favored even excluding any ref
erence to the facts asked for by Ger
many, settling first the point as
whether Germany Intended TO disre-
card the American warning of last
February that It would insist on the
exercise of the right of visit and
search with respect To vessels on
which Americans We're travelling.
No Delay Desired,
one cabinet member believed that
the American government should in |
vestigate the points raised hv the Ger |
man answer submitting its proof and