Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-17
Drafts of an Answer to Be
Laid Before President and
Advisors on His Return.
NEW NOTE TO REASSERT
U. S. RIGHT ON HIGH SEAS
This Government Not to Subordinate
the Lusitania Case or Move for
Mediation of Sub" Warfare.

Developments in the issue between
the United States and Germany await
ed today the return of President Will
son from Cornish, N. H.
The President is to take up with Sec
| retary Lansing and others of the
cabinet several drafts of an answer
to Germany's recent reply to the
American note protesting against the
German method of submarine warfare.
The President will confer with Secre-
tary Lansing Monday. The cabinet will
meet Tuesday
The new note will reassert the right
of Americans on the high seas. 1t
probably will be brief.
Until either Great Britain or Ger
many requests specifically mediation
on the subject of submarine warfare
and contraband. officials hold that the
American government will make no
move in this direction, and that this
government will not subordinate the
Lusitania case or the assertion Of its
rights at hints from Germany. I
Germany Willing to Mediate.
Much stress was laid on Germany's
Willingness to have the United States
mediate in an effort to restore recogni-
tion of the principle of freedom of the
seas by Count Won Bernstorff, the Ger
man ambassador, in an informal inter-
view with Secretary Lansing, but high
officials. recalling that one effort to
mediate on the subject of submarine
warfare and contraband already had
failed, indicated that the step would
not be repeated unless specific request
was made by one or the other of the
belligerents.
Inasmuch as Count Won Bernstorf
had no instructions from his govern
ment and brought no communication
from his foreign Office, his visit. some
officials said, was unlikely to change
the purpose of the United States to
take into consideration solely what
was said by Germany in it's last note.
Secretary Lansing on all phases of the
question, and sent a long report to
Berlin.
The interview. 1t was believed. might
have tangible results during the course
of later negotiations. since the Ameri-
can viewpoint was explained to some
extent by Secretary Lansing
Confident Rupture Will Be Avoided.
The ambassador expressed confidence
last evening that the situation between
the two countries was not critical. and
that a rupture of relations seemed i'm
possible because of the desire of both
governments to avoid 1t. He said he be-
lieved there would be no repetition OF at
tacks without warning on passenger
vessels of belligerent nationality. and
based his optimism on the fact that
German submarines recently had ex-
ercised great precautions.
When asked if oral assurances that
Americans would be safe on unresist-
ing and unarmed belligerent ships
| would be acceptable, Secretary Lansing
told inQuirers that if such assurances
! were given by direction of the German
government they would be as satis-
factory as those of formal char
acter AS yet he has had nothing from
Berlin on this phase of the situation
since the last note arrived.
President and Secretary Confer.
CORNISH, N. H. July 17.-President
Wilson was in communication today
with Secretary Lansing regarding the
German situation, including the confer
ence held yesterday between the Secre-
tary and Count Won Bernstorff, the Ger
man ambassador. There will be no fur
ther developments in the situation. how
ever, until the President returns to
Washington early next week. .
The President played today what was
probably the last golf game of his pres
ent visit. Members of his family will
remain here after his departure for
Washington. The President will return
here later if possible.
President Wilson Yesterday virtually
put in shape the views on the German
situation which he will communicate to
Secretary Lansing and other members
of his cabinet on his return to Wash
ingtoh.
The President has obtained in a gen.
eral way the ideas of the Secretary of
State on the position to be assumed by
the United States.