The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-05-14
Government and People of
the US. Turn Expect
antly Toward Berlin
FIRMNESS OF PURPOSE
IN NOTE RECOGNIZED
Diplomats and Officials Generally Are
Impressed with the Stand Taken
Against the Use of Submarines as
Commerce Destroyers.

Against the Use of Submarines as
Commerce Destroyers.
WASHINGTON, May 14-The govern
ment and people of the United States to-
day turned expectantly toward Berlin,
where Ambassador Gerard had been in
structed to present to the German gov
crnment the American note calling atten-
ton of the Imperial government to the
unlawful and inhuman" destruction of
the Lusitania and other violations of
American rights on the high seas
No time Is specified for a reply, but the
communication says the government and
people of the United States look to the
Imperial German government for Just.
prompt and enlightened action in this
vital matter
/ The course to be pursued by the United
States in the event of a noncompliance
with its request and expectations is not
stated but high officials pointed out that
+ the conclusion of the note was intended
to impress upon Germany that there
should be no misapprehension in Berlin Of
the firm purpose Of the United States to
safeguard its rights by any means neces-
sary.
This Is expressed in the final sentence,
which says: The Imperial government
viii not expect the government Of the
United States to omit any word or any
act necessary to the performance of its
lsacred duty of maintaining the rights Of
the United States and its citizens and of
safeguarding their free exercise and enjoy
ment "
It was Just week ago today that the
Lusitania was struck by German torpedo
and sunk with the loss Of many neutral
lives besides the scores of Americans
The United States government is the
first to act The other neutral nations
most Of whom have been waiting for the
policy Of the United States to be revealed
are not expected to decide what represen
tations they viii make.
As the note was read today by diplo
, mats and officials generally one featur,
which attracted wide comment was th
stand taken by the United States agains
the use of submarines as commerce de
stroyers, the attention Of the German
! government being called to the practica
4 impossibility of employing these underse
r craft to destroy merchantmen ''withou
disregarding those rules of fairness, jus
tice and humanity which all modern opir
ion regards as, imperative
4 This was taken by naval officials t
: mean that not only in the present wa
r but in future international conferences t
amend the rules of maritime warfare, th
/ American government wolld be foun
a aligned against the use Of submarine
against merchantmen
White House officials adopted IL
policy of silence, holding that any di
cussion of the situation at this tin
/ would be useless and inopportune i
asmuch as the question is now befo
! the Berlin government.
a. The cabinet met today in regular Sc
le sion, but no further action was co
n templated, pending receipt of the Ge
: man reply.
ia The President took a short autom
ne bile ride before the meeting and W
i leave late tonight on the yacht Ma
te flower for New York to review the A
'e 1antie fleet there next week He W
ne keep in touch with every developme
ld in the situation. He has declined j
IS ivitations to any event not connect
at with the review of the fleet.