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Show GERMAN NOTE NOT COMPLETE Washington, May 19. Official In-lormation In-lormation was received here today that Germany's reply to the American note will not be completed for at least a week and probably not reach Washington for at least ten days It is now known, with some definiteness, that Germany will indicate her willingness willing-ness to have her submarines act toward to-ward all merc hantmen just as destroyers destroy-ers or cruisers would, giving ample time for passengers and crew to leave: provided merchantmen are unarmed or if passengers and contraband traffic traf-fic are separated. That position Is looked upon with some favor here, provided it is suggested as a modus Vivendi, or temporary arrangement, and does not inolve the relinquishment relinquish-ment by the United States of the rights of its citizens to travel anywhere any-where on the high seas, through thp war zone on belligerent ships unarmed. un-armed. Must Recognize Laws. There is an insistence on the pari of the United States that the principles princi-ples of humanity and law expressed by the United States must be admitted admit-ted by Germany and an attempt to de stroy American lives on the Lusitanla must be disavowed. That LTnited States will stand firmly on the principles princi-ples set forth in its note, has been conveved indirectly and informally to Germany since the communication itself it-self left here. Another factor in the situation which Is expected to be clarified in a day or two is that with respect to Great Britain over the embargoes proclaimed pro-claimed by the allies. That a note on the subject is practically prac-tically completed is authoritatively known, but it was learned today that President Wilson probably will not malce any move in that direction until Germany's reply is received. Reports from Berlin indicating that the American note would be met with the statement that the United States law of 1S88 prohibiting transportation of explosives on passenger vessels and that the captain of the Lusitanla was, therefore, breaking American laws, brought to light here toda the fact that this subject had been fully considered con-sidered in the (reparation of the American note. Officials of the stat i department were Informed by officers of the department of commerce that there was nothing In American law to prohibit the carrying of passengers on ships which also carried fixed explosives, explo-sives, although the carriage of gunpowder gun-powder and similar combustibles, in themselves explosives, was forbidden on passenger steamers. Matter Submitted to Attorney. The mattei was submitted in i?il to Solicitor Earl of the department of commerce and labor, who gave an opinion holding that where small arms ammunition can be carried without endangering en-dangering the lives or health of passengers pas-sengers or the safety of the vessel, the transportation thereof is legal. Officials of tho commerce and state departments, It Is understood, hold that the same reasoning applies lo all manner of fixed ammunition, torpedoes tor-pedoes and the like |