The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-06-05
CRISIS DRAWS NIGH,
NEXT NOTE TO GERMANY WILL
FORCE THE ISSUE,
Wilson VIII Demand an I'm
equivOcal Reply as to Whether
Germany VIII Abide by Information.
al Law in Future or Will Continue
Policy of Savage Warfare in Disrc-
gard of Neutral Rights.

United States must ascertain definite
ly and promptly from Germany
whether that country intends in the
future to be guided by the accepted
principles Of international law and
the rights of neutrals or to follow It's
own rules of maritime warfare.
The president listened to varied
expression Of opinion at a meeting of
his cabinet, taking little part in the
discussion himself. Later he began
the preparation Of note to be dis
patched before the end of this week,
embodying his own ideas and what
seem to him the consensus of his Of
fetal family.
The verdict of a majority of the
cabinet was that the German reply to
the American note following the sink
ing Of the Lusitania was unresponsive
and unsatisfactory. disregarding the
good will Of the United States, doubt
ing it's facts and disclaiming all blame
for the destruction Of the merchant
man with American lives. The ques-
tions of fact raised by Germany were
regarded as irrelevant at this time.
The trend Of opinion was that the
United States must learn soon wheth-
er Germany intends to recognize the
hitherto accepted principles that neu-
trails may travel anywhere on the
high seas on unarmed merchant
ships. even II carrying contraband,
and that a merchantmen which does
not resist capture must be visited and
searched and the passengers and crew
transferred to a place Of safety be-
fore the vessel is destroyed.
| An unfavorable answer to this in
quiry would lead. i: was predicted in
official quarters to severance Of dip
lomatic relations on the ground that
the United States could not continue
intercourse with a government which
repudiated these principles. Steps
then would be taken to inform Amer
leans Of the dangers to which they
were exposed as result of this action
and such measures as necessary
adopted to safeguard the lives and
interests Of citizens Of the United
States. ..j."
| Should Germany accept the prin-
ciple in q way that would constitute
u guarantee for the future the Ameri-
can government would reiterate it's
demand for a "strict accountability
for violations of This principle and the
killing Of Americans on the Lusi-
tania.
| The decision to base the Amerian
note on the principles Of interna-
tional law, to obtain an affirmative
or negative reply, and not enter into
a technical discussion Of details
raised in the German communica-
ton, was the single development OF
the cabinet council. Some members
favored even excluding any reference
to the facts asked for by Germany,
settling first the point as to whether
Germany intended to disregard the
American warning Of last February
that it would insist upon the exercise
Of the right Of visit and search with
respect to vessels on which Americans
were travelling.
One cabinet officer believed the
Aferican government should enter
into investigation of the points raised
by the German answer, submitting
its proof and giving the German gov
ernment an opportunity to do like
wise. Others. however, declared that
such a process would mean only do
lay and in the event Of deadlock
on facts, would leave the United
States, which had already assured It,
self of the authenticity of it's infor-
nation, and whose good faith was OF
stake. without remedy for tho pres
ent or future, attacks on American
vessels having been committed, not
withstanding assurances to the con-
trary. The opinion was general that
the United States would restate that
the Lusitania was unarmed and would
ignore such questions as to whether
the carriage of ammunition is O. yio-
lation Of American law.
| Tomorrow Count Won Bernstorff. the
German ambassador will call on
President Wilson. The ambassador
requested the interview. He declined
to say tonight what he proposed to
discuss. In we'll informed quarters
the belief was expressed that while
the ambassadors visit might not af
feet the Forthcoming note, what the
president might say informally to the
| n ho do ho