The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-08-25


Washington, Aug. 25.-President
Wilson has been informed unofficial
Iy from sources close to Count Won
Bcrnstorff, the German amba ssa dor,
that the next communication from
Berlin on the sinking of the White
Star liner Arabic will be of a charac-
ter satisfactory to the United States
Coming close on the telegram
which the amba ssador forwarded to
the state department yesterday by di-
rectIon of his government declaring it
was not he intention of GERMANY that
any American lives should be sacri-
feed in the sinking of the ship, this
development was regarC cd as indica t.
ing that Germany would make q pro-
pOsal satisfa ctoTy to the United
States respecting submarine attacks
on vessels purely of q passenger car
rying nature.
Officials Are Guessing.
Officials are at loss to conjecture
what the German government viii
propose but the assurance that there
Is every desire in Berlin to avoid
break with the United States has re-
leved the situation much.
Officials were eager TO know what
position Germany would now take
without surrendering ker contended
right to submarine warfare against
enemy commerce.
Administration officials did not ac-
cept Count Won Bernstcrff's message
as a disavowal, but were hopeful that
it Indicated that n disaVCwal will he
Forthcoming.
Berlin Answers For Gerard.
Secretary Lansing would not COM
ment on the amba ssa doris telegram.
The message, however, was regarded
as answering the inquiry which the
state department directed to Ambas-
a3or Gerard, on whether he had re-
ceiVed any report, because it showed
that the German government itself
was lacking information necessary for
an explanation.
Chairman simmons of the senate
finance committee, who saw President
Wilson today. said he believed the sit
uatiou looked much better as a result
bf The message from Count Won Bern
Etorff.
4 do not believe the telegram would
have been sent unless the German
government intended to meet the po-
Eition of the United states said SEN
atOr Simmons. Il think the message
shows that Germany does not want to
break with the United States
Won Bernstorn to Washington?
New York, Aug. 25.-Count Won
Bernstorff. the German ambassad dor
clusion here today with his plans for
the next few Gays undeVeloped- He
had received no further advices from
Berlin bearing on the sinking of the
Arabic. he SAID. and did not know
when such would be received.
1t is within the range of possi-
bilitieS, the am nDaSSadOr said, that ne
would go to Washington to confer
with Secretary Lansing before receiv-
ing further word from Berlin. but this
would be, if at all, upon Secretary
Lansings invitation.
Gerard Sees Won JagOw.
Berlin, Aug. 25-CVia London -
The American Ambassador. James w.
Gerard, called on Foreign Minister
Won Jagow last evening and asked for
information concerning the sinking of
she steamship Arabic. Mr.. Gerard
learned that the government had no
official news whatever on this subject.
The only information which the
government has is that contained in
newsDaner .-iSpatches from abroad
which throw little light on the cir
cumst3nceS attending the destruction
of the steamer. 1t is not even clear
whether tire disaster was due to a tor
pedo or mine and whether in case
the vessel was torpedoed. there were
special circumstances which impelled
the commander of the submarine to
attack the Arabic.
Until official advices have been re-
ceived definitely clearing up these
points the foreign office will hardly
be in A position to ,4iscuss the case
or make any declaration of policy
the incident.
Officials of the foreign office make
IT clear that they have no intention of
foutirg the United States or seeking
to bring about a situation such as that
dealt with alphabetically in the last