Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-11
BURDEN0NW|LS0N
TO DECIDE POLICY
U.S.|S TOT OLLOW
Quietly and Carefully Con
sidering Situation Raised
by German Reply.
OFFICIAL WASHINGTON
TAKES VERY GRAVE VIEW
Unanimous Verdict Is That An
swer From Berlin Is Thor
oughly Unsatisfactory.
LANSING WILL GO TO CORNISH
Recall Of Gerard or Complete Sever
ance Of Relations Among Pos
sibilities Discussed.
LANSING WILL GO TO CORNISH
Recall of Gerard or Complete Sever
ance of Relations Among Pos
SibilitieS Discussed.

WASHINGTON. July 1o-omcial
Washington takes grave view of
the situation produced by Germany's
refusal to meet the demands of the
United States growing out of the sink
ing of the Lusitania, with n loss of more
than 100 Americans.
Upon President Wilson rests the bur-
dent of deciding the policy which the
United States is to follow. Quietly and
carefully he is considering the situation,
1t was stated at the White House. after
telephone communications with the
President at Cornish and the country
may expect him to act with delibera-
tion as we'll as frmness" when he has
examined all phases Of the problem.
Secretary Lansing withheld comment
AS soon as the complete official text
of the German reply arrives. which will
be tomorrow. he will begin a careful
study of it, and on Monday or Tuesday
will go to Cornish for a conference with
the President. The President Will then
return to lay before the Cabinet the
course upon which he has determined.
What action the United States will
take officials to-day could not predict
with certainty. Some OF those who have
OF view. however. pointed out that there
seemed to be but one course open with
dignity and honor to the United States
the continued assertion and exercise of
tho rights Of neutrals on tho high seas
| In accordance with the principles Of in
| ternattonal law. Responsibility for any
rupture which might subsequently ensue
between the United States and Germany
would then fall upon Berlin.
REPLY FROM GERMANY
| ENTIRELY UNSATISFACTORY
There is yet no definite capitalization
OF opinion among officials, but the dis
tlnct tendency Is toward a reiteratton
not only in 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 was
thoroughly unsatisfactory. and leaves
the situation exactly at the point
where 1t was In the days immediately
following the sinking Of the Lustania
While the continued exercise OF
American rights in the future Is urged
as 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 ouest;on
OF reparatlon
Germany's refusal on these points
may lead. 1t is believed, to steps bv
the United States TO show IT'S disan.
proval of the last note. Whether
American Ambassador Gerard might he
recalled or complete severance of
diplomatic relations ordered was apSin
discussed In official circles as we'll as
among diplomats. Officials familiar
Win diplomatic procedure declared that
tho American government before taking
any definite steps probably would send
note to Germany formally rejecting
the proposal to permit the unrestricted
use or American passenger ships or for
hostile merchantmen under the aner;
can flag, provided they carried no mn
nltions or war. In the same note formal
notification probably would be given
to the German government of tho In
tention Of the United States to continua
TO exercise it's rights with the an
nounced expectation that thew would hs
respected.
NO HURRY IN DECISION
ON MoMENTOUS QUESTIONS
ihcre Is little disposition in official
quarters TO hurry n decision on the
momentous questions involved Since
the messages began two months aro /,
was pointed out, there have been No
bclliserent ships carrying Americans
torpedoed without warning. Since Ger
man submarine commanders have made
their practice square with international
law to that extent, officials do not he
lleVe the REFUSAL Of the German gov
erhheht itself to give explicit assur-
ances VIII be followed by any overt
acts involving further loss of American
lives.
The controlling factor in the situa.
ton, according to indications in official
quarters, Is the attitude the United
states should take as n result Of tho
Lusitania tragedy itself 1t Is the
shaping OF course that will maintain
the dignity OF the United States and
give promise of obtaining some salts
factory settlement Of the dispute that
Is giving us most concern
On the law OF the case, the American
position was held by officials to be alb
solutely impregnable. because II was
founded or the well-recognized prin-
clples by which nations have long been
guided. The question seemed TO most
officials now rather one OF national
policy. involving tho settlement OF
whether the continued insistence on
American rights would develop n situa-
ton menacing the peace OF the United
States or whether "a passive acqules-
cence. In the German point OF view
would embarrass the American govern
ment in It's relations with other ma
tions.
Many neutral nations have Indicated
informally to the United States that
they looked to this country TO uphoti
neutral rights under international law.
and their eEyoys hero ware alert cnr