The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-06-08
PRESIDENT DESTROYS DOCU-
MENT SHALL BE
EXPLICIT.
And Explain Position of U. S. So
There VIII Be No Pro-
tracted Discussion.

WASHINGTON. June President
Wilson let II be known today that the
note which the United States il to
send 10 Germany with respect TO sub
marine warfare had been prepared
with the utmost expedition and had
not been subjected to an hours un-
necessary delay since IL was frst
drafted
The Presidents desire 10 have the
document state explicitly the position
OF the United States government so
that IL cannot possibly be mlsunder-
stood abroad or invite protracted dis
cussion on the freedom issues involved
is chiefly responsibl for the fact that
the note has not yet gone
Legal officers OF the government ex.
amined the note with minute care and
sent II back to the President with some
changes. II may require further con
sideration by the President and his
cabinet tomorrow. and high officials
did not know tonight just when IL
would be cabled On the highest
authority. however. IL was stated that
as soon rs the President regarded the
communication as satisfactory in
phraseology IL would be transmitted to
Ambassador Gerard.
To Be Onpcachable.
Questions of such serious moment
are involved in the wording Of the
new note that the President is anxious
that the communication not only shall
meet his own wishes but should Je
unimpeachable from the point OF view
OF the experts in international law.
While the President has been work
Ing on the document. special agents
OF the United States government have
by their Investigation corroborated IN
every detail the statement made IN
the first American note--that the i-u-
sitania was unarmed At the same
time Meyer Gerhard, personal envoy oil
Count Won Bernstorff. the German
ambassador has been voyaging nearer
TO Germany carrying important mes
sages from the German embassy con-
cerning the American point of view on
the submarine warfare The latter cir
cumstances. however. was declared in
high official quarters. to have been
merely a coincidence and in no way
to have influenced the progress OF the
note. Officials familiar with the situa-
tion dissipated the notion that any
influence had arisen 10 delay the send
Ing of the communication
@fy ~ OPtUNOUs
When the document is finally made
public. these officials stated. II would
not only satisfy American public opin-
ion, but would place sduarely before
Germany the issue as to whether the
imperial government intends to adhere
to the hitherto accepted principles of
international law on maritime war
fare.
To what extent the German view
point here regarding the situation be-
tween the United States and Germany
is the same as that held at Berlin Is
not clear as yet. But certainly the
general view in German quarters here
is that the recent trend of events give
hopes OF friendly adjustment This
Is based not alone on the probable
course Of the German negotiations but
of the American course which is re-
garded as developing along lines which
will permit of a satisfactory con
clusion.
The most promising formula for a
solution, according to the German
viewpoint. is one which would combine,
an agreement on the status of the
Lusitania as an armed or unarmed
snip. and also a general agreement
guaranteeing immunity from attack
hereafter to all armed ships carving
passengers