Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-12
LESS ACUTE STAGE
IN DIFFERENCES
ON ARABIC CASE
Better Prospect for Find
ing Some Ground on
Which to Agree.
TWO SETS OF VIEWS
URGED ON PRESIDENT
Some Officials Want Disputed
Questions of Fact Referred
to The Hague.
OTHERS OPPOSE THIS METHOD
OTHERS OPPOSE THIS METHOD
Danger Of Break, Growing Ont OF
Issue, Lessons as Each
Hour Passes.

WASHINGTON, september 1.-THE
issue with Germany has turned to a
less acute stage during the last twenty
four hours, through consideration OF
the proposal TO take the disputed ques-
tions Of fact in the Arabic case to Tho
Hague.
One set OF officials believes to do so
would amount to arbitrating the prfn- =
ciples for which the United States has
been contending, and would open the
way to practically unlimited subma-
rine operations with disputed questions
of fact and arbitration in each case.
Another set of officials believes that
without taking in the principles in
volved The Hague might properly he
allowed to decide. not whether the SUBJ
marine commander thought he was JUS
tihed in sinking the Arabic because
he believed she was about to ram him
but whether the liner was actually at
tempting to resist or escape. and, If so,
whether that justified the commanders
act in international law
both SETS OF, VIEWS
URGED on PRESIDENT
Both sets OF views are being urged
on President Wilson. who will decide
what shall be done. Secretary Lansing
refused to-day to Indicate his view
Despite the fact that all officials con-
sidered the German explanation unsat- 2
isfactory and disappointing. there APP
peared to-day to be more of a prospect
FOR finding some ground on which the
two countries could meet Another
note. unofticially reported TO have been
delivered to Ambassador Gerard by the
Berlin Foreign Office last night. failed
TO arrive to-day. Secretary Lansing
said he had no official knowledge or
inttma ton that another communication
was coming or what it contained.
From other sources it was reported
that the note is Germany's explanation
or the unsuccessful attempt to destroy
the Cunard liner Orduna on July Q,
when n submar rine sent torpedo with
in ten yards of tho ships stern, then
unsuccessfully shellcd her until she
was out OF range. The Orduna was on
her way TO the United States and had
twenty-five Americans aboard when
attacked. In the Orduna case there is
conflict OF statements as 10 whether
the ship had warning tried to es-
cape. II is not an issue between the
United States and Germany, and is not
likely to become one.
RESPONSE no INQUIRIES
MADE by GERARD
"c German note is IN response to in
puirics made by Ambassador Gerard at
the direction of the State Department.
1T is not regarded as having any bear.
ing upon the present situa ton. unless
1t contains some declaration of prin-
ciplcs new to the controversy. The
view OF the closest observers here ia
mat in the Arabic case the danger of
a break grows less as the hours pass
without action.
In the case of DR.. Dumba. Captain
Franz Won Papen, the German military
attache. and Alexander Nuber Won
Pereked. Austrian consul l-general In
New York. there was no change.
BERLIN FORWARDS
NOTE on oRDUNA
The note delivered to Amba ssador Ger
ard By the German Foreign Office yes
terday, which was believed to be sup
Elemental communication on the sink
ing of the Arabic, now is understood
to be note on the unsuccessful at
tempt 10 torpedo the Cunarder Orduna
on July q.
The note had not been received in
Washington to-day. and the state De-
partmen; had no information of its
whereabouts. In circles close to tho
German embassy, however, it was said
the note concerned the Orduna, and
that when its contents were known it
probably would be found that the Ger-
man government claimed some sort Of
Justification for the attack OH the liner.
SOFTENfNG OF VIEWS
AMONG OFFICIALS
Overnight consideration of the note
on the Arabi indicated softening OF
views among one set OF officials who
are inclined to further negotiations
with Germany Their views cannot be
stated as being President Wilson'S, but
their views will be urged on the ,Presi-
dent before he makes up his mind what
to do.
While they agree that Germany's
reply is disappointing and unsatisfac-
tory. they urge that the Arabic case
has come down TO questions of in
demnity and OF fact. The explanations
offered by Germany for the sinking OF
the White Star liner differ materially
from the statements in the hands OF
President Wilson and Secretary Lam
sing. Those officials who favor further
negotiation contend that proper way
to determine which set OF facts is COR
rect is to let the case go to The Hague,
where, they also contend. the question
OF indemnity could be arbitrated with.
out endangering the principles for
which the United States has contanded
as governing submarine warfare.>. Z
There We're indications In officiaI
quarters to-day that the United States
had received moro unofficial and In
formal intima tiors that. despite tina
attack on the Arabic and the Hespefiau;s
the German ,government actually had
finally accepted the principle that an