The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-07-16
SITUATION AGAIN
BECOMES SERIOUS
THE GERMAN NOTE RECEIVED IN
WASHINGTON DOES NOT
SATISFY DEMANDS.
ISSUES RAISED EvADED
mand Recognition of Principles of
international Law.-President
Will Act With Firmness.

Observation-Disclosures Washington
takes a grave view of the situation
produced by Germany's refusal to
meet the demands of the United
States growing out of the sinking of
the Lusitania, with a loss of more
than 100 Americans.
Upon President Wilson rests the
burden of deciding the policy which
the United States Is to follow. Quiet
~ and carefully he Is considering the
situation, it was stated at the White
House, after telephone communica-
lions with the president at Cornish,
N. H., and the country may expect
him to act with "deliberation as we'll
as firmness" when he has examined
all phases of the problem.
What action the United States will
take officials could not predict with
certainty. Some of those who have
been familiar with the presidents
point Of view and with the details of
the present situation, however, point
ed out that there seemed to be but
one course open with dignity and
honor to the United States-the con
tinued assertion and exercise of the
rights of neutrals on the high seas IN
accordance with the established prin-
ciples Of international law.
Responsibility for any rupture in
friendly relations which might subse-
quently ensue between the United
States and Germany, it was declared,
would fhnr. fall 1nnn fha Pnrlir uNu-
eminent.
There is as yet no definite crystal
lization Of opinion among officials as
to details, but the distinct tendency
is toward a reiteraton not only In a
formal note but in actual practice of
the principles for which the United
States has been ~contending. The
unanimous verdict of high officials
was that the German reply vas thor
oughly unsatisfactory and leaves the
situation exactly at the point where
1t was in the days Immediately follow
ing the sinking OF the Lusitania.
While the continued exercise of
American rights in the future is urged
as a logical course to be followed, it
Is recognized also that the United
States cannot abandon the demands
1t mas made for the disavowal of intent
to drown Americans and the question
Of repatriation.
Germany's refusal on these points
may lead, it is believed, to steps by
the United States to show It's disap-
prevail of the last note. Whether Am
hoccoJor Coror6 nniohf ha recalled nr
q complete severance of diplomatic re-
Iations ordered was again discussed in
official circles as well as among diplo-
matists.
There was no denial in any quarter
that the general situation was fraught
with grave possibilities. This was in
dictated. however, in the undertone of
comment rather than in n direct
way.
Text of the Note.
Berlin, July 8.
'"Tha undersigned has the honor to
make the following reply to his excel
lency, Ambassador Gerard, to the note
OF the 10th ultimo re. the impairment
OF American interests by the German
: submarine a
"The imperial government learned
with satisfaction from the note how
earnestly the government of the United
States Is concerned in seeing the prin-
ciples of humanity realized in the pres
emit war. Also this appeal finds ready
echo in Germany, and the imperial
goernment is quite willing to permit
its statements and decisions in the
present case to be governed by the
principles of humanity, just as it has
done always
''The imperial government welcomed
with gratitude when the American
government. in The note of May Is, it
self recalled that Germany had al
ways had permitted itself to be gov
erned by the principles OF progress
and humanity in dealing with the law
Of maritime war. Since the time when
Frederick the Great negotiated with
John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and
Thomas Jefferson the treaty of friend
ship and commerce of September 9,
1855, between Prussia and the republic
Of the west, German and American
statesmen have, In fact, always stood
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