Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-05-15
WHITE HOUSE is
AWAITING REPLY
FROM GERMANY
Officials Say that Any Further Dis
cussiOn Of Situation by Them
Will Be Useless as Well &c
Inexpedient.
ALL EYES TURNED TO BERLIN
Terms Of Treaty with Prussia in Di-
rect Contradiction Of Kaiser's
Present Sea Policy.
INTERNATIONAL LAW IS QUOTED

WASHINGTON, May 14.--whitu
House officials today adopted the
policy OF silence no far as the Amer +,
lean note to Germany is concsrned. +,
They felt that any discussion OF the
situation would be useless and inop-
perfume inasmuch as the question -
now before the Berlin government.
The cabinet met today in regular
session. but no further action was
contemplated pending the receipt Of
Germany's reply. The president
took short automobile ride before
the cabinet meeting and will leave
late tonight on the Mayflower for
New York to review the Atlantic
fleet there next week.
During the trip, which will last
nearly a week, the president will be
kept in touch with every Develop
ment in the situation. but only Inn
portant matters will be placed before
him. He has declined many invita-
tions to events In New York not con-
nected with the review of the fleet.
All Eyes Turned Toward berlin.
The government and people OF the
United States today turned expectantiy
toward Berlin. where Ambassador Gerard
had been instructed to present to the
German foreign office a note calling the
attention of the imperial government 10
the unlawful and inhumen destruction
OF the Lusitanis and other violations Of
American rights on the high seas.
Germany is asked in the note to dis
avow the acts Of It's submarine eomman-
ders In the torpedoing without warning
OF the Lusitania. a British ship. with
loss OF more than 100 American lives,
and the American steamer, GulfIight, "As
q result Of which two or nare American
citizens met their death" Repayation,
$50 far as repsration 10 possible" Is
asked. and the United States denislys 1t.
confidently expects that the isnpesiai
German government will ,talxa immediate
steps to prevent the recurrcncsf' Of such
acts and practices.
| No time is specified for reply. but
the oouamunioaticn says the government
and people OF the United states look 20
the irnperiaI German government for just.
prompt and enlightened action IN this
vital matter" tttSeT ,Ift'
The course TO bs pursuoa By the Uniasd
states IN the event of a nonccmtliance
with its request and expectations, IA not
stated. but high officials pointed ous that
tho conclusion 'of the note lwas intended
TO impress upon Germany that there
should be no misapprshension IN Berlin
OF the firm purpose Of the United states
to safeguard It's rights by any means
necessary. THIS IL expressed IN the final
sentence, which says.
The imperial German government will
not expect the government OF the United
States to omit any word or any act
necessary to. the performance OF its
sacred duty of mainfaining the rights
Of the United statss ana III 'citisens and
Of safeguarding their nee exercise and
enjoyment"
Lusttania sunk Week AGo.
II was Just week ago today that the
Lusitania was struck by German tor
pedo and sunk. with the loss Of many
neutrals' lives besides the scores of
Americans, The, United States govern
msnt is the first 30 act. The other neu
trail nations. most Of whom have bean
waiting for the policy OF the United
States TO be revealed. are now expected
to decide what representations they viii
make. As the note was read today by
diplomatists and officials generally, one
feature that attracted wide comment was
the stand taken by the United States
against the use OF the submarine as a
commerce destroyer. the attention OF the
German government being called to "the
practical impossibility'' Of employing
these undersea craft to destroy mer-
ohantmen" without disregard TO those
CONTINUED on Page TWO, Column TWo7