Perth Amboy evening news., 1915-09-14
Arbitration Question is Not at
Issue and Was Not Dis
cuSSed at Conference With
Won BernStUff Yesterday.
TENSION SOMEWHAT EASIER
Nothing Short OF DiSagoWaI of
the German Submarine
Commanders Act viii Sat
iSfy the u. S., is Report.
Special py onited Press wire.

Special oy OHited Press Wire
Washington, Sept. 14:-The Wash
ington administration insists on a
German disavowal of the act of the
J commander of the submarine which
sank the Arabic. This was declared
! fatty in statement issued from the
White House today
The President, it was said, was not
considering the question of arbitrat-
/ ing American lives. The explana-
tion threw a new light on the rea-
son for the delay in negotiations. The
administration merely awaited a re-
ply to the requirements it had made.
! 1t was not generally understood
arbitration was refused as to the JUS
tifiability of the German U boat COM
mander's mistake in assuming that
| the Arabic was about to attack him.
Germany apparently took the atti-
tude that she would owe no indem-
nifty If an arbitration court should
decide in the commanders side The
Washington administration, as the
statement was generally interpreted,
took the contrary view
1t was recognized that the issue is
critical one.
The arbitration question is not at
issue and was not discussed at Mon
days conference between Secretary
Lansing and Ambassador Bernstorff,
1T was stated -os4-. highest authority
Nothing short Of disaxowafo Of fhs
submarine commanders act will sat
isfy the American government, it
was said
This was made clear to the Ger
man ambassador and pending a re-
ply from his government no other
phase Of international situation viii
be discussed with him. A reply
form Berlin is expected within four
or five days Administration Off
cials feel that affairs now are at a
critical stage and everything will
depend on Germanys reply to the
message cabled by Bernstorff after
his conference with Secretary Lam
sing.
Danger of Crisis Vanishing.
While # would not be true TO say
that all danger between the United
States and Germany has entirely dis
appeared. officials assert that the ex-
changes Indicate that the two ge7 ern-
ments are in harmony in the desire to
adjust the difficulty.
1t is known that President Wilson
and his associates are very hopeful OF
an adjustment of the difficulties with
Germany on a basis satisfactory to the
United States.
In the conference between Secretary
Z 7 nd n
new effort to bring the two govern
ments TO an understanding on the sub
marine issue was initiated.
This marks new stage In the situa-
ton, in that note writing has been
abandoned for the moment In favor of
direct discussion between the two gov
ernments
Expect Results to Follow.
Those most intimately concerned in
the endeavor about to be made are
most hopeful that this method will
produce results. They believe that at
least it will put stop TO tine irritation
caused in both countries by the two
governments bombarding one another
with notes.
The Immediate obstacle which II is
sought TO remove by this process of d.
rect discussion is the difficulty raised
by the German note on the Arabic case.
1t is the firm belief here on the part
Of both the German embassy and the
administration that If the difficulties
presented by the Arabic case can be
smoOthed away settlement Of the whole
issue will follow.
Ambassador Bernstorff ia now. after
his talk with Mr. Lansing. in position
TO present TO his government the basis
Of the view the United States takes In
the Arabic case. 1t is understood that
he was shown the voluminous evidence
at the state department on which the
administration bases its view that the
circumstances did not warrant the
German submarine commanders belief
that the Arabic was trying to ram his
boat.
Arbitration Not the Issue.
The developments showed clearly
that the proposal of Germany in the
Arabic note for arbitration OF the ques-
ton as to whether or not the submarine
commander was justified IN treating
the Arabic as a vessel OF hostile intent
is not the immediate point at issue. as
was at first thought in some quarters.
The issue of the moment is one of es-
tsblishing the good faith OF Germany
and bringing her to the position Of
squarins her acts on the seas with her
pledge not to attack passenger ships
without warning.
Another difficulty In the immediate
Continued on page A.