The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-05-09
MATTER OF DEEP
STUDY JUST NOW
BY President Wilson, Following
the Great Human Tragedy
Enacted.
DISTRESS AND GRAVITY
of the Situation Are Felt by
Him and He Desires to Do
the Risht Thing.

CAY ASSoGGATGo pPESo
WASHINGTON. May S.-President
Wilson, upon whom the eyes of the
world are focused at the present mo-
ment, studied In quiet seclusion today
the aspects OF law and fact in con-
nectin with the sinking by Ger
man torpeGo of the British liner.
Lusitania, wit consequent loss OF
many American lives.
The great human tragedy coupled
with the responsibilities of the hour
caused tho president to deny himself
10 all callers. even to members OF
his Official family, while he turned
over in his mind the course TO be
pursued by the United States gov
ernment in one of the most serious
crises in its history
One Glimpse of His Mind
The only glimpse of the working
of the presidents mind was given
when the White House tonight is
sued its first formal comment on the
disaster. The announcement was
made that the president realized the
country expected him TO deal with
the situation with deliberation as
we'll as frmness.
The statement follows:
After conference with the pres
ident at the White House this. even
ing. Secretary Tumulty said:
"'Of course the president feels the
distress at the gravity OF the sit
uation to the utmost and is consid-
ering very earnestly. but very calm
" the right course of action to pur-
sue. He knows that the people of
the country wish and expect him to
act with deliberation as well as with
frmness.' +"
Official Eata Lacking
The official data upon which form
al action will be based. has NOT ar
rived. The president did not, there
fore communicate with Secretary
Bryan, or the oncials OF the state
department, nor did he consult mem
bers of the cabinet or Congress he
has been giving such close personal
attention In the last few weeks TO
the particular questions involved that
he was thcN ght to be determined hrst
to sift for himself the various ques-
tions and shape a policy 10 be sub
nitted to the cabinet probably on
Monday or Tuesday.
In the meantime public opinion was
expected to crystallize and help
point the way Members of the cab
met cancelled other engagements and
held the Gselytes in readiness for the
presidents call At the state depart
ment. when secretary Bryan was
asked il there was any advice to com
municate to the American people al
this time he replied that he did not
think that this was needed for the
country understood the situation
This is no time to rock the
boat" he said
No Guns Carried
It was the same sentiment which
Chairman Stone. of the Senate for
airn relations committee had e&-
pressed earlier In the day The sin
single phrase expressed a desire OF
the Washington administration that
prejudices and passions be not thrust
into the unstable equilibrium while
the government endeavored to learn
all the details
ono important fact was definitely
aacertained by the Washington gov
ernment from the port authorities OF
New York, who gave clearance to the
J.usitania-that II carried no guns,
either mounted or unmounted. IN ac-
cordance with the caution or the
state department and the British gov
ernment early in the war Inis dis-
posed in the minds ofhciais OF the
claim that the German submarine
had a right to attack the Lusltanla
because It was an auxiliary or con-
verted cruiser. The officials Oh the
Cunard liner are understood TO have
stated that the Lusitania was noi
conveyed
These facts in the opinion OF Ia"
officers of the American government,
left the German submarine
No Excuse Under Law
or reason for an attack without warn
Inr ON a ship with hundreds OF non
combatants aboard including neutral
men. women and children The po-
stffon of the United States has been
that the presence of contraoand-
even arms and ammunition-acccr
ing to the rule of international law,
Including the Declaration of London
which generally has upheld cannon
warrant the sinking OF merchant
man EithouE the previous exercise
~ the right of visit and search ano
Ihe removal of non-combatants te
a place of safety. The government
stated that this in in its last note
10 Germany and at the same time
issued a warning that the imperlai
German government would De hsic
-.to a strict accountability, by the
United States for any loss OF amer
ican vessels or lives
The decision which the presioen'
and his advisers must reach, 1t was
admitted in all quarters
Is a MomentouS One
Those oficiaIs conyersant with the
legal aspects of the case pointed oui
tbe+ the United States faced a grave
and serious problem of lasting i'm
nortance in history as all the world
neufrals and belligerents alike
would wait with acute e1pectency OF
the course which the United states
wo,,Id pursue to preserve the rules
fTsor+innad on mage 2, first section