The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-10
WILSON SILENT;
FEELING TENSE
IN WASHINGTON
Germany's Stand Regarded
as Being One of In
difference.
SOME BELIEVE SHE
WOULD PREFER WAR

wAsHISGroS. May e.--The passing
Of another twenty-four hours without
any light on the Intentions Of Presi-
dent Wilson toward Germany finds
the situation here still extremely
tense.
on all sides are heard expressions
of the deepest sympathy for President
Wilson IN hts struggle with the tre-
mendous task OF deciding what Is the
wise course for the United States to
pursue.
Outwardly q was the calmest Of
Sundays In Washington. There was
an abstention from official duties TO
AN even greater degree than usual
The President went TO church in the
morning and motored with members
Of his family in the afternoon. His
closest advisers seemed TO be enjoying
an unbroken Sabbath quiet.
An observer would be deceived
however. II he did not see beneath
this studied calm a national Admins
tration determined TO meet the crisis
in a manner which will satisfy the
self-respect Of the Government and
fulfil the trust and expectations Of its
people.
ru ~s>>s sasu> snuarelv
Forty-eisht hours have served 70
make one fact ciear-there Is no
longer any doub, that the United
States will squarely meet the issue
| presented by the group OF cases OF
German submarine and aerial attacks
! on the American flag and on Amer
| lean life and property.
The l.usitania case. technically not
| so grave an affront 10 the United
, states az the Outright and Gushing
/ cases. has had the effect OF arousins
| the people to the principles involved
and the expressions thus heard from
! tho public leave no doubt of their
demand and expectation that the Gov
crnment must act.
| The question has thereby been re-
duced from double TO single form.
No longer IL It Ought something 70
be done, and II SO what" but rather
What can the United States do"
No suggestion Of the many brought
forward in the last two days has found
much to commend II. What Is being
sought is course OF action which Will
meet the situation without plunging the
United states into war.
A clash with Germany is 20 be avoided
not only because war is war. but be-
cause there is suspicion here that
Germany would not be averse TO the EN-
broilment OF the United states in the
European conflict
From 4 responsible source enjoying
clos. relations with the President comes
the statement that II the worst fears
are realized Germany will have to take
the initiative.
This does not mean that the United
states may not do something which will
provok. Germany to rupture. but Il
does mean that there is determine
ton that the situation shall be so man
aged that the United States VIII not
make any declaration Of this character.
, In other words. the situation Is likely
. 10 be lust about AS serious as Germany
herself sees At to make II.
The Line of Action.
In considering how the United states
shall proceed some officials intimately
associated with thi. problem are point
ing out fundamental considerations Ia
he kent in mind. The objective of the
United States, they assert. IL not TO
get into passion and blindly attempt
to strike meaningless blows just because
it has suffered grievous attacks
Its only objective is to secure proper
protection FOR the lives Of its citizens
and its flag on the high seas, The
menace to the flags immunity and the
safety OF its citizens lies in the German
submarine operations. Consequently the
course of action. which the United States
must seek is that which will bring to an
end the German submarine danger.
That the United states can bargain
I with Germany 10 bring her to abandon
her submarine operations 40 far as they
endanger American life and property is
considered out OF the question in the
light Of what has happened.
1t il held that Germany is not amen
able to reason that she can he brought
10 alter her course only through the
Offering OF something of prot to her OF
by she Use of physical force
II IL be decided that the United State,
cannot honorably seek to buy of Ger
many from her submarine programme
there Is left only the resort to physica
pressure upon Germany,
There Is another suggestion much dis
cussed here and accepted by many. no
because 1t Is satisfactory. hut because
IL seems the least Objectionable course
That Is that the United States break OF
diplomatic relations with Germany pro
claim her. In American opinion. an out
law among nations with whom IN,
United States can have no relations.
This course is urged az peculiarly in