Evening star., 1915-06-18
Naval Element Fiercely At
tacks Those Who Would Seek
Peaceful Solution.
MEYER-GERHARD REVEALS
AMERICAN CONDITIONS
DR.. Solf, Colonial Secretary, Favor
able to a Friendly Settlement,
Gets First Reports.

BERLIN. June 49, via London. LAS
p.m.-The effect of the arrival OF DR..
Anton Meyer-Gerhard. who has come
from the German embassy at Washing
ton with messages bearing upon the
German American situation, upon the
preparatory work of Germany's an
swer to the American note, is not thus
far perceptible. Count Won Bernstorff's
emissary began today the first Of
series of important conferences with
officials of the foreign office. He spent
most of yesterday with the secretary
OF state for the colonies. DR.. w. S.
Solf. at the latter's country place, fol-
lowing brief conversations with Gott-
lieb Won Jagow. the foreign minister.
and Under Secretary Zimmerman.
That DIR. Meyer-Gerhards first ex-
tended report on conditions in the
United States should have been made
to DR.. Solf Is regarded as natural in
view of the official position of the CO.
lonial secretary. and there are other
indications that DR.. Solf is taking an
interest in the question of German
American relations and may play a role
In the deliberations upon Germany's
second answer regarding the Lusitania
disaster.
DR.. Solf Knows America.
OF the men in higher government po-
sitions DR.. Solf Is one of those most
familiar with the life and conditions IN
the United States. He has. in fact. a
good deal of the American in his man
ner of talk and action. His influence
upon Germany's policy, concerning
which it Is evident there are conflicting
currents, may be expected to be favor
able to an ultimate understa nding. 1t Is
still too early to predict what form the
German note will take. Apparently an
endeavor will be made to open the way
to further discussions.
The newspaper war between advo-
Gates of friendly settlement and the
NO compromise" representatives con-
tinues to rage. Naval writer's in par
ticular urge that Germany cannot at
ford to yield an iota regarding the
principles and practice Of submarine
attacks upon the advocatea-of an un-
derstanding indicates that the latter
are not without influence.
Editorial Expression.
The Cologne Gazette points out edi-
torially that the German press In
general has shown satisfaction that
President Wilson's communication Of
fers opportunity for an understanding
and expresses the belief that diplomacy
on both sides of the Atlantic will work
with zeal and good will to this end
1T is quite certain the German gov
ernment, at least, will do this.and will
be generally supported therein by the
people, this newspaper continues. ut
would be pure imbecility to seek to
drag in, without necessity, a ninth or
tenth enemy for ourselves even though
its participation in the war should be
limited to supplying the Quadruple al
lance with money and munitions
I'VE say without necessity, for recog:
milton of the fact that Germany is act
ing in self-defense in using the tor
pedoes of its submarines against hostile
merchantmen SO long as England MAIN
tains its business blockade against us
should, we believe. be a condition which
the United States should eecognize as
preliminary to negotiations
Chides Lokal Anzeiger.
In a leading article entitled Bad AL
vice" the Cologne Gazette takes the
Lokal /Anzeiger to task for attempting
to palliate the British starving out
policy and expectations from America
of war supplies. Conceding that the
cutting off of supplies is an accepted
method of warfare it states that in
ternational law provides expressly that
this weapon may be used only in the
form of an effective blockade. No
effective blockade of the German coasts
has been declared, however, and Ger
many therefore is deprived of the pos
sibility Of taking action against block
aiding ships.
Regarding the expectation of NUM-
tions from the United States, the Ga
Zette adopts the argument of Philip
Zorn, German member of The Hague
tribunals, that although the conven-
ton adopted at The Hague justif1es
sales by private firms, a neutral state
is bound to prohibit sales of this ma
ture when the commerce in arms as
sumes such an extent that continuation
of war is directly dependent thereon.
Admits Voting for Arms Sales.
That the German representative (at
The Hague) voted in favor of permis-
sion to deliver arms is incontestibIe.
the article continues. but there is
great difference between stamping
every sale of arms by private firm in
neutral state as violation of inter-
national law-this was what the Ger
man representatives objected to-and
arguing that to supply enormous ouan-
titles to one group of belligerents alone
and to devote practically the entire
available industry of a country thereto.
is consonant with the spirit of true
neutrality"
Capt. Won Kuehlwetter, the naval ex-
pert of the Tag, points out that the
American note passes over in silence
the German representations regarding
the British admiralty's instructions to
merchantmen to seek cover under neu-
trail flags and attack submarines under
this cover. He declares this as the ker-
mel of the whole argument and the JUS
tification for the German policy.
IF a submarine attacks such ship,
there is an outcry about barbarians
who violate international law and en-
danger innocent neutral passengers"
Capt Won Kuehlwetter continues, but
if a ship attacks submarine. then 1t is
a brave act of a daring skipper, to
whom is given a commission, a gold /
watch and a diploma"
NEW BRITISH LOAN BILL