New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-13
Wilson Taking Time to
Make His Reply
Effective.
SINCERITY DOUBTED
Germany Believed to Have Used
Freedom OF Sea Cor a
Popular Appea. ~

now confronted WIN "A
~flatio1 of q grave. critical and
most serious character. such as it
has not had to face for many years"
This statement was made by a
high official Of the State Department
to-day in discussing the German re-
ply TO President Wilson's second note
on the sinking of the Lusitania.
Throughout official circles the same
view prevailed, and the feeling here
tonight is one of anxiety and tense
ness. The tension has been strained
to the breaking point.
Should another passenger vessel
be torpedoed and more American
lives be lost there is nothing that
can prevent an immediate rupture
between the United States and Ger
many. President Wilson might ex-
ert every effort to maintain peaceful
relations, but officials here are prac-
tically unanimous in the belief that
such a flame of indignation would
spread through the nation as would
leave him no alternative.
It is this feeling that grasps
official Washington tonight. 1t is
said unofficially that Germany has
warned its submarine commanders
to sink no more passenger ships.
But this information has not been
communicated to this government.
Officials here hope that it is true.
Wilson Takes Time.
Because of the serious and critical
situation which the German reply
has brought about it was said here
to-day that President Wilson will
consider long and carefully what it
is expected will be the final warning
to the German government.
High officials said that 70 meet the
situation firmly the utmost dellbera-
ton was required. This information
was given out so that a delay Of a
week or more might not be misnter-
preted as meaning that the United
States intended in any way 70 reeede
flom its position.
Secretary Lansing will not 60 TO Cor
rish TO discuss the note with the Pres
ident. Instead, he will remain az his
desk preparing a memorandum in
which the German note will be ana
lyzed point by point and the reply OF
the American government to each
point outlined. This memorandum vii!
BE- handed to the President when he
returns.
Speculation as to the probable reply
narrows down to the opinion that it
will be a final demand for an answer.
to the specific questions in the two
previous notes of this government. Il
will be so phrased, officials believe,
that no loophole will be left through
which Germany may wander into dis
crssion OF such irrelevanc!es as have
characterized her replies in the past.
Wants No More Evasion.
The contention Of the United States,
il is thought, will be that while our
complaints to Germany have been made
on legal grounds Germany's replies
have been based on pleas Of justil!ca-
ton and appeals for popular sympathy.
Thus the two nations have been en-
t!rely at cross purposes.
The United States will insist, II is
predicted, that Germany make direct
end unequiyocal answers 70 the several
demands of the United States and that
/, be understood that no other form
o. reply will be accepted.
I'VE cannot argue over the points
contained in the German note" said an
official to-day. I'VE cannot discuss
irrelevancies Of this nature when we
are faced by the tremendous fact that
Germany has taken the lives Of over 100
Americans, inoifensiye passengers Of
the Lusitania, and has persistently re-
fused either TO disayow the act or make
reparation. That is the main question,
and we shall insist upon settling shat
first"
Unofficial adyices from Berlin that
the German government is prepared 20
offer the use Of certain interned Ger
man liners in New York harbor as a
sacred feet" under American registry
for the transportation OF American
passengers and non-contraband mer-
chandise, we're not taken seriously by
officials. The position of the British
government on transfers Of registry Il