Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-14
WAIT ON BERLIN
BEFORE NEW MOVE
IN ARABIC CASE
Bernstorff Furnished With
All Evidence of Officers
and Survivors.
INFORMED THAT u. S.
DESIRES DISAVOWAL
He Will Transmit Advices to His
Government and Ask for
Instructions.
Settlement OF This Issue May Mean
Clearing Up Of Entire Subma-
rine Question.
INFORMED THAT u. S.
DESIRES DISAVOWAL
SITUATION IS NOT HOPELESS
Settlement OF This Issue May Mean
Clearing Up Of Entire Subma-
rine Question.

WASHINGTON. September 1s.-con-
ferences to-day between President Will
son and Secretary Lansing and between
Secretary Lansing and Ambassador
Bernstorff brought the situation grow
ing out Of German submarine activi-
ties to the following status
G) The German ambassador has been
furnished with the evidence of officers
and survivors OF the Arabic. all agree
ing that the liner was proceeding
peacefully when torpedoed without
warning. and has been advised that
the United States desires a dtsavowal
of the attack and rcparation for the
American lives lost.
f2) The evidence will be sent by
Count Bernstorff to the Berlin Foreign
Office. to which it has not been avail
able before, and probably ten days will
elapse before Berlin can be heard from
In some quarters 1t is believed possi-
BILE the Foreign Office. upon examining
tho evidence, may change it's position
and disavow the action OF the subma-
rine commander. who, it was claimed,
sunk the liner because he thought she
was about to attack him.
UNITED STATES READY
TO DECIDE ON COURSE
(s) The United States has all infor-
nation on the case as it now stands
at hand and is ready to decide upon
It's course. but action may be delayed
until Count Rernstorr has had time to
exchange communications with his gov
ernment
a. While the United States will not
consent to arbitration of principle
nor of a question involving the safety
OF American lives. it has accepted Ger
many's assurances that peaceful liners
will not be torpedoed without warning,
and If Germany desires to arbitrate the
amount of indemnity. the question OF
whether tho Arabic actually attempted
to attack the submarine, or whether
her actions justified the submarine
commander in believing he was about
to be attacked, that probably would be
agreed to.
The President and Secretary Lansing
were in conference for nearly an hour
and later Count Bernstorfr spent half
an hour with the secretary. No an
nouncements were made. 1t was said
in well-informed circles, however. that,
although the American government was
not pleased with the Ara bic note the
situation was considered far from
hopeless.
BERNSTORFIT GIVEN WIDE
LATITUDE BY BERLIN
The German amba ssador is understood
to have been given wide latitude by
Berlin in the negotiations. All the ex-
changes from now on probably will
come through him, and it generally is
believed settlement OF the Arabic case
eli
entire submarine question
An indication OF the close attentto,
the President is giving the foreign
situation and the gravity with which
ne ragards IT was given to-day whom,
In declining an invitation TO deliver an
address ne said:
we are all hoping and praying that
the skies may clear, but we have no
control over that on this side of the
water, and IL is impossible to predict
any part or the course OF affairs"
NO word has come from Vienna re-
Sardlns the note informing the Austro-
hungarian government that DR.. Con-
stantin T. Dumba no longer is accepta-
bic as an ambassador here Notice that
Dr. Dumba has been recalled Is ex-
pected at any time
BEHNSTORFF AND LANSING
MEET IN CONFERENCE
Especial 10 The Times Dispatch.
" "aSfilNGTON. September 1S-The
hrst of series OF important confer
ences between Count Won Bernstorff
the German ambassador. and Secretary
or State Lansing, took place to-day ar
the state Department..
The purpose of the conferences IL 70
rcach an aInicablc and definite under
standing on the pending issues between
the TWO governments. The German am
oassador has been given authority by
ms go"ernment 10 take up every point
with Secretary Lansing Each step will
be submitted to Berlin for approval
I'n MS part. Secretary Lansing will be
in constant touch with the President.
In this way II is believed full agree
men can be reached regarding the
rights OF Americans on the high seas,
and the application of international law
to submarine warfare, much more
quickly than by the method heretofore
pursued, namely, the exchange OF
formal notes
Secretary Lansing declined to discuss
to-day's conference. Ambassador Bern
storff was plainly well pleased with the
turn aHairs have taken More by his
manner than by anything he said. he
indicated a belief that the negotiations
which are now going on informally are
the most important that have been un-
dertaken since the beginning ot the
controversy between the two govern
mcnts.
One reason for the amba ssador's feel
ing OF confidence can be traced TO his
opinion, which ne has expressed from
time 10 time. that almost any questions
can he settled II the diplomats con-
cerncd can get together personally and
talk them over
SENDS LENGTHY REPORT
rFn
Preceding tho conference. Secretary
Lansing called on President Wilson and
discussed the situation. He will sec tho