The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-04-19
Refers 10 Early Outrage.

The President will point out that
the Lmsitania was sunk with a loss of
more than 100 American lives after
Germany had been warned that she
would be held to "strict accountable
ty" for any ahbreviation of American
rights on the high seas. 1t will be
recalled that after apologies had been
made in the Lusitania case and Ger
tain assurances made the Arabic was
sunk. with an added loss of American
lives.
President Wilson will point to the
assurances then given by Germany,
when the two nations were It the
point of rupture in relations. Act
ing on these assurances. the United
States continued negotiations for set
Element of the submarine issue. al
though there were recurrent subma-
rine attacks on vessels carrying Amer
leans.
The President will then point to
the new submarine campaign
launched by the Central Powers
March /, against all enemy shipping.
and to the series of cases since then
in which vessels with Americans
aboard were torpedoed without warn
ing.
These attacks. eliminating in the
imperiing the. lives OF twenty five
Americans, will form the chief counts
in the indictment
The final counts In the indictment
will relate to the sinking OF the Man
chester Engineer Eagle Point. Eng
lishman, Berwindvale and Eastern
City All OF these cases involved at
lacks on merchant vessels with Amer
leans on board.
In IrrcconCiIa bic Conflict.
Ii will he stated by the President
that the United States and Germany
are apparently in irreConCilahle con-
/ fiCt on the submarine issue. He viii
summarize this conflict along the fol-
+ lowing lines:
After sinking the Lusitania and
Arabic the German government gave
pledges that liners would not be
, sunk without warming The Sussex
attack followed. The President will
declare that Germany is convicted Of
the Sussex attack. not only on the
weight OF evidence of the allied gov
ernments Investigations and the am
davits of Americans, but on her own
defense, which he CONSTITUTES az an as
sumption OF guilt
/ The President viii declare 10 Con-
gress that there are apparently ir-
.reconciliahle differences between Ger
sumed right of Germany to torpedo
armed enemy liners without warning.
The United States, so far as it has gone
on record, permits the defensive arm
ing of merchant vessels
ON the third question. the assumed
right OF Germany TO torpedo without
warning merchant vessels Of bel
iigeront nationality, the President will
point to another point of conflict
t ~ 1P
by diplomatic proceedings an issue in
which he holds American honor and
American rights are involved, the
President viii advise Congress of his
hnal conviction that the United states
cannot longer maintain friendly rela-
Htions with Germany
Rernstorfr Surprised.
+ Count Won Bernstorn was taken
completely by surprise when advised
of the Presidents action. He was given
no hint Of this intended action when
he saw Secretary Lansingjat 4 o'clock.
He was then told that Mr. Lansing
was not prepared to discuss the sub
marine situation with him.
The German ambassador asked for
the appointment with Secretary Lam
sing after receiving lengthy message
from Berlin 1t was presumed that he
/ had been given authority to meet the
American government. half way In any
measures for settlement of the sub
marine issue. The ambassador is un-
derstood TO have said that he was pre-
pared to go "ntnctenths of the way"
When the ambassador saw the sec
Rotary, however the arrangements had
not been made for tomorrow joint
session and the announcement Of this
action could not he made until Con-
Press had passed the Joint session res
olution.
MAY Question President
There were indications tonight that
some members Of the House and SEN
ate will endeaVor TO question presi-
dent Wilson when he appears before
Congress tomorrow They will ask
him whether he Is confident Of being
able to avert war, In case of a break
I'm diplomatic relations. Some mem
lbers of the. House tonight discussed