New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-20

common ground would be farcical.
The note, however, will be couched
in polite and friendly language.
The President and Secretary
Lansing, it is understood, have be-
come convinced, after a careful study
of the German note, that the Ger
man government has no intention of
receding from the position it has
taken on the Lusitania disaster.
With this in mind, it is not believed
the President will even consider fur
ther parleying with Germany.
No Opposition Expected.
The preliminsries are over so far as
this note Is concerned, for opposition
is not expected at the Cabinet meeting
tomorrow. Secretary Lansing and
President Wilson have been at great
pains to determine the feeling of the
people at large and believe they have
succeeded in embodying popular senti-
ment in the draft they have prepared.
The question of mediation by this
government between Great Britain and
Germany was brought up by Secretary
Lansing in his talk with the President.
The Secretary repeated his converse
tion with Count Won Bernstorff, in
which the German Ambassador sug-
ge3ted that mediation be attempted be-
fore the situation progressed into fur
ther difficulties. 1t is believed the Pres
ident opposed the idea, saying he pre-
ferred to postpone action along those
lines until the German situation had
been cleared up.
In the American note to Germany
which caused Mr.. Bryan's resignation
the United States repeated its offer 20
act As a go-between for the warning
power suggesting hat IL Germany
had any proposals to make to Great
Britain the United States stood ready
at any time to convey 70 either gov
ernment any suggestion or intimatlon
the other may be willing 10 have II
convey"
In view of the fact that Great Brit
ain has rejected offers of mediation, IL
is not thought advisable 10 cloud the
present issue by renewed attempts OF
the kind In all probability, therefore,
mediation will not be pressed by this
government curing the present negotia-
tions.
No Advices on the 0rduna.
Secretary Lansing said to-day he had
as yet received no official sdvices con-
cerning the attack on the British
steamship 0rduns and was not thor
oushly satisfied as 10 the accuracy Of
the official reports published. Officials
generally are not disposed TO view the
Orduna incident as grave until con-
firmation of the published facts is pre-
sented.
'lany officials believe, however, that
the incident has had an important
psychological effect throughout the
country. If this is true, the effect on
public sentiment may be reflected in
the note 70 Germany.
Stat Department officials are conf
dent the German government will send
its version of the Orduna incident as
scJn as the report of the submarine
commander is received The depart
ment will have an investigation made
or its o,,- account. The Department
of Justice or the Treasury Department,
each o. wl'ch has a corps of secret SER
vice agents, will be asked 10 help.
The government is sparlHg no pains
to get fu details Of the Orduna incl
dent, but probably will not delay the
note 10 Germany because Of IT, II is
expected the note will be put in final
form very soon after to-morrow's Cabi-
net meeting and will be sent 70 Ambas-
sador Gerard for submission to the
German Foreign Office before the end
of the week