  The dilepton production in elementary ${pp\to e^{+}e^{-}X}$ reactions at
BEVALAC energies $T_{lab}=1\div 5$ GeV is investigated. The calculations
include direct ${e^{+}e^{-}}$ decays of the vector mesons $\rho ^{0}$, $\omega
$, and $\phi $, Dalitz decays of the $\pi ^{0}$-, $\eta $-, $% \rho $-, $\omega
$-, and $\phi $-mesons, and of the baryon resonances $% \Delta (1232),N(1520),$
$... $ . The subthreshold vector meson production cross sections in $pp$
collisions are treated in a way sufficient to avoid double counting with the
inclusive vector meson production. The vector meson dominance model for the
transition form factors of the resonance Dalitz decays $R\to e^{+}e^{-}N$ is
used in an extended form to ensure correct asymptotics which are in agreement
with the quark counting rules. Such a modification gives an unified and
consistent description of both $R\to N\gamma $ radiative decays and $R\to N\rho
(\omega)$ meson decays.
  The effect of multiple pion production on the experimental efficiency for the
detection of the dilepton pairs is studied. We find the dilepton yield in
reasonable agreement with the experimental data for the set of intermediate
energies whereas at the highest energy $T_{lab}=4.88$ GeV the number of
dilepton pairs is likely to be overestimated experimentally in the mass range
$M=300\div 700$ MeV.
