Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-08
NOT TOEXPRESS
US. VIEW Of NOTE
President Wilson Decides to
Await Formal Reply From
Germany.
AMBASSADOR GERARD
SEES TEUTON OFFICIAL
Situation Somewhat Perplexing, But
Friendly Settlement of Controversy
With Germany Is Expected.


American note regarding the Lusi-
tnnia incident. The conference was
for a further discussion of the Ger
man tentative proposals from an
American standpoint.
PRESIDENT Wilson has decided there
Will be no answer to Amba ssador Ger
ards inquiry for instructions concern
ing the tentative draft submitted to
him by the German government of its
note on submarine warfare. and that
no comment will be made by the United
States until Germany's formal reply is
delivered.
Ambassador Gerards message trans
mitting the draft of the German note
was of such a character as not to require
an answer and the American government
has now determined that it cannot enter
into any discussion of negotiations until
Germany's proposals are formally sub
mitted.
Offer Made by Germany.
While no official would divulge the
contents of the draft as communi-
Gated by Ambassador Gerard, it is
now known definitely that Germany
offered to permit Americans to travel
on,ns on unarmed belligerent merchant
in advance that they carried no
contraband, and that the German gov
ernment was notified of their time OF
departure and character
The same suggestion in another form
that Americans refrain from taking
passage on belligerent ships carrying
contraband while negotiations on the
principles involved were in progress
was made by former Secretary Bryan
and rejected by President Wilson, and
n hnn k ha r.
proposal is regarded by the Washing
ton government as surrendering i'm
portant neutral rights which if grant
ed to one belligerent it would be neces-
sary to give to other belltgerents, thus
imperiling the entire fabric of Amer
lean rights.
With that view in mind. high officials
Of the Washington government are
practically agreed that. inasmuch as
the United States stated its position
on the law and facts in it's last note
no compromises can now be made. Nc
discussion can be begun, in the official
view, until Germany answers the last
American note.
President Hears From Advisers.
Secretary Lansing and other adviser.
Of the President transmitted by mai
and telegraph to him at his summer
residence at Cornish, N. H., their view:
on the policy they believe ought to bt
pursued.
Count Won Bernstorff, the German am.
bassador, back from his summer home
at Cedarhurst, L. l., rendered his con-
gratulations to Mr.. Lansing on his ele-
walton to the secretaryship of state
last evening and asked informally con-
cerning the latest phases of the nego-
tiations conducted through Ambassador
Gerard in Berlin.
The Secretary, in accordance with
diplomatic courtesy on such occasions
outlined to Count Won Bernstorff in g
general way what had been transmitted
by Ambassador Gerard, but gave nc
intimation as to the course which the
United States government would fol-
low. Count Won Bernstortf said he hao
no advices of his own concerning the
situation and, it is understood, had nc
suggestions to make.
After the conference it was said tina,
Count Won BernStorH learned that AM
bassador Gerard's message was not OF
a character which would necessarily
require an answer. There is little doub,
in official quarters that the German
proposals in their present form would
be unacceptable to the United States
government.
Situation Somewhat Perplexing.
The situation is somewhat perplexins
to high officials here because they are
reluctant to engage in an informal dis
cussion of questions which they hole
were clearly stated in the American
note. At the same time they are anxious
that Germany may have no misconcep-
tion as to what the United States would
or would not accept.
Although officials were generally reti-
cent concerning the nature of Ambassa
dor Gerard's conversation with German
foreign office functionaries, it was said
hat h 700 RI l<a 7
whether the German government had
asked him to obtain the views of the
United States on the tentative draft OF
whether in showing him a copy the I'M
plication was that the American gov
ernment could, if it chose, comment or
it before the note was completed. AS
a result of his conference. however. the
ambassador asked if the State Depart
ment had any instructions for him.
In the circumstances. it is entirely
possible for the Washington govern
ment to maintain silence with respect
to the ambassadors inquiry. but the
general belief was that some indication
would be given him as to what COM
ment, if any, he should make on the
draft before him.
Some of the Presidents advisers seem
to think advantage should be taken OF
the opportunity to reiterate most firmly
that the United States, having stated its
position on the law and the facts, can
make no concessions from it's strictly
legal position or consider any modus
vivenQi involving 4 temporary arrange
ment as between the belligerents until
there Is a clear understanding on Ger
many's attitude toward the principles
compelling visit and search before de-
stroying unresisting merchantmen.
Friendly Settlement Expected.
While the optimism which has pre-
vailed in official quarters for some time
as a result of Ambassador Gerard s
early messages has to some extent been
dissipated by the unsatisfactory char
acter of some of the proposals made in
the tentative draft, the situation still
was regarded, among well informed Of
flcials, as susceptible of a friendly set
tlement.
Emphasis was laid on the fact that
the German foreign Office apparently
seemed anxious to learn the minimum
of the American demands in submitting
the tentative draft, and the belief was
expressed that further conferences with
other departments of the government,
and even with Emperor William him.
self, might be planned in the event that
the proposed note as shown to Am
bassador Gerard was not viewed favor
ably by the United States.