Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-02
PLANS FOR FUTURE
|. WILL Be DEMANDED
his Country Must Know What
Are Intentions of Ger
many.
WILSON MAKES DECISION
Failure to Reply Satisfactorily
May Bring Severance of
Relations.
WILSON MAKES DECISION

WASHINGTON. Juno 1.-Presiden,
wilson determined to-day that the
United States must ascertain definitely
ana promptly from Germany whether
mat country intends in tho future to
oe guided by tho accepted principles
9o' International law and the rights of
"eu'rals or to follow its own rules Of
maritime warfare
ine President listened to n varied
EXPRESSION OF opinion at meeting Of
ms cabinet. taking little part in the
discussion himself. Later he began
'he preparation Of note to be dis
Patched before the end OF this week.
embody!ng his own ideas and what
j seemed 10 him tho consensus OF his Off
cial family.
NOTE INSATISFN
Is VERDICT OF CABINET
ne verdict OF a majority OF the Cabi-
het was that tho German reply to the
american note following the sinking
OF 'he Lusitania was unrcsponsivc and
unsatisfactory d!sreCarding the good
VII OF the United States. doubling its
iac's and disclaiminC all blame for tho
destruction OF the merchantmen with
American lives. The questions OF fact
raised by Germany were regarded as
irrelevant at this time. Tho trend OF
opinion was that the United States
must learn soon whether Germany in
tends 10 recognize tho hitherto accepted
principl" that neutrals may travel any
\ where on tho high seas on unarmcd
merchant ships even II carrying con-
trahand. and that merchantmen which
do not resist capture must be visited
and searched and the passengers and
crew transferred TO n place Of safety
before the vessel is destroyed
An unfavorablc answer to this in
curry would lead. II was predicted in
! Official quarters. to a severance OF Dip
lomatic relations on tho ground that
the United States could not continue
| Intercourse with 4 government which
reDudia;ed these principles. steps
then would be taken to inform Amer.
leans OF the dangers to which they weI~
exposed as n result OF this action and
such measures as necessary adopted to
| safeguard the lives and interests Of
citizens of the United States. Should
Germany accept the principle In a way
that would constitute a guarantee for
the future. the American government
! would rc!terate its demand for n strict
principle and the killing OF Americans
i on tho Lusltania.
NOTE WILL. BE BASED on
INTERNATIONAL LAW
The decision TO base the American
note on the principles Of international
law, to obtain an affirmative or mega
! tive reply. and not enter into a tech
: meal discussion OF details raised in
the German communication, was the
i single development OF the Cabinet
council. Some members favored even
excluding any reference TO the facts
| asked for b. Germany, settling first
the point as TO whether Germany in
tended TO disregard the American warn
ing OF last February that II would In
sist upon the exercise Of the right OF
visit and search with respect TO YES
sells on which Americans were travel
1 ing.
One Cabinet officer believed the
American government should enter into
an investigation of the points raised
by the German answer. submitting it's
proof and giving the German govern
ment an opportunity TO do likewise.
Others. however, declared that such a
process would mean only delay. and, in
the event of n deadlock on facts, would
leave the United States. which had
/ already assured itself of the authen-
| ticity OF its information, and whose
| good faith was at stake, without
/ remedy for the present or future, at
| tacks on American vessels having been
committed. Notwithstanding assur-
! ances 10 the contrary. The opinion
was general that the United States
would restate that the Lusitania was
unarmed. and would ignore such ques-
ton az to whether the carriage of
ammunition is a Violate of American
law.
GERMAN AMBASSADOR
CALLS ON WILSON TODAY
Tomorrow Count Won Bernstorf. the
German ambassador, will call on Presi-
dent Wilson. The ambassador re-
uuested the interview. He declined
to say tonight what he proposed 10
discuss. In well-informed quarters the
| belief was expressed that while the
| amba ssador's visit might not affect the
forthcoming note, what the President
| might say informally TO the ambassador
would he transmitted to the German
government and be taken into con-
! sideration when the American COM
| munication is delivered In Berlin.
In some diplomatic quarters close to
the German embassy 1t was said to-
night that the ambassador would seek
10 elicit from the President his views
on how Germany could conduct her
submarine warfare without interfering
with neutrals. and might suggest the
separation of passenger and contra
band traffic or the giving assurances
that the British government would not
arm its merchantmen carrying pas
sengers.
Ohicials conversant with the posi-
tion Of the government indicated that
Continued on Tenth Page)