Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-26
ARABIC CRISIS
. LOOKS BRIGHTER
Washington Officials Are
Pleased With Effort
Made BY Germans
MORE INFORMATION
EAGERLY AWAITED
Intentions of u. S. Will Be
Kept Secret to Permit
Full Explanation

washington, D. c., Aug. 25.-While
White house officials today showed
that they believed the outlook over
the Arabic sinking was more hopeful,
they maintained the position that a
1urther statement from the German
government would be awaited before
any announcement of the intentions
OF the American government would be
made.
Unof1cial word was conveyed to
PRESIDENT Wilson today that close
friends of Count Won Bernstorff be-
leved his telegram yesterday request
Ing the United States to withhold
Judgment, foreshadowed action by the
Berlin government which will satisfy
the United States.
The president was informed through
friends of the ambassador that Ger
many wanted to maintain friendly re-
lations with the United States and
that the next message from Berlin
would be of a favorable character Ad-
mlnistratiOn officials did not accent
Count Won Bernstorff's message as a
disavowal, but were hopeful that 1t in
dicated that disavowal will be forth
coming.
Secretary Lansing would not COM
ment on the ambassadors telegram.
The message, however, was regarded
as answering the inquiry which the
state department directed to Ambas-
sador Gerard on whether he had re-
ceived any report, because it showed
that the German government itself
was lacking information necessary for
an explanation
No fresh instructions have been
sent to Ambassador Gerard and he
has not communicated with the state
department within the last twenty-four
hours.
A week or more is expected to
elapse before Germany is again heard
from. Meanwhile, officials here are
compiling evidence submitted by Am
bassador Page and consuls at Liver
pool and Queenstown. The texts of
the aff1davits Of survivors have been
mailed but so far only a synopsis Of
them is at hand.
Austrians Blame U. s.
Zurich, Switzerland, Aug. 25.-The
silence hitherto observed by the press
of Austria Hungary regarding the
steamer Arabic has been broken. The
Neue Freie Presse of Vienna, whose
relations with the German embassy
are Of the closest, declares that zone
thing is certain; the American gov
ernment has every ground to consider
the grave perils to peace which its
policy involves.
1T is absurd that the accident of
two or three Americans being injured
In the war zone should decide the
question of peace between two great
nations. Germany has made reason
able proposals, which absolutely would
exclude such threatening incidents.
III the Arabic affair should develop
further diff iculties. the dual monarchy
would deeply deplore 1t. Perhaps the
affair, after it is cleared up, may lead
America to revise her policy
Won Bernstorff QuIet.
New York, Aug. rs. Count Won
Bernstorff, the German ambassador to
the United States, remained in seclu-
sion today with his plans for the next
few days undeveloped. He had receiv-
ed no further advices from Berlin bear
ing on the sinking Of the Arabic, he
said, and did not know when such word
would be received.
It was within the range of possibili-
ties. the ambassador said, that ne
would go to washington to confer with
Secretary Lansing before receiving
further word from Berlin, but this
would be, il at all, on Secretary Ian
sings invitation Unless he should re-
ceive such request, Count Won Bern
storff said, he expected to remain here
temporarily. He probably would 60 to
Washington, he asserted, as soon IS he
should hear from Berlin again on the
Arabic incident.