ABSTRACT
Thomas Woodrow Wilson sincerely hoped that he could keep the United States out of the war. Wilson, in spite of his sympathy for England, had at that time no difficulty in distinguishing between the interests of England and those of the United States. Wilson's sympathy for England, his romantic feeling that death in battle was a glorious end and House's influence all tended to make him wish to lead the United States into the war. The sinking of the Lusitania threw Wilson into a condition of uncertainty which lasted six days; he prepared and read to the Cabinet a note demanding from the German Government an official disavowal of the sinking of the Lusitania. On May 28, the German Government replied to Wilson that the Lusitania was an armed cruiser and transport and, as such, a vessel of war.
